[AP/Yonhap News Photo]
North Korea's nuclear test site showed resumed activity but there is no indication yet on an underground test, according to 38 North, the website of a US research institute.
After weeks of brisk activity, the North's Punggye-ri test site was put on "standby" at around April 20 with personnel being allowed some downtime for recreation like volleyball games.
38 North said fresh satellite imagery from April 25 showed an apparent resumption of activity such as the pumping out of water at a tunnel prepared for a nuclear test, "to maintain an optimal environment for instrumentation and stemming".
"Several probable mining carts appear to be present, although there does not seem to have been any significant dumping of new material on the spoil pile. The netting canopy previously sighted over probable equipment near the North Portal’s support building remains in place, but no vehicles or personnel are readily visible in the area.
It's still unclear if such an activity indicates that a nuclear test has been canceled, or that a test is imminent, analysts said in an article published by 38 North.
Pyongyang appeared to have initiated a tactical pause as part of an overall deception plan, delaying the sixth test until a time when a detonation would achieve the greatest political advantage, 38 North said earlier.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
