[Yonhap Photo]
Tunnel work is still underway at North Korea's nuclear test site near the border with China, despite a series of tremors that followed a powerful test in September, according to 38 North, the website for a U.S. research institute.
The test on September 3 triggered post-test earthquakes near Mount. Mantap in the Punggye-ri site. The Seoul-based Korea Meteorological Administration has warned that another powerful detonation could trigger a leak of radioactive materials.
Recent satellite imagery indicates that tunnel work is still underway, with efforts concentrated at one of the site's several test portals, 38 North said. The North Portal, the site for five tests, was left abandoned "at least for the time being", as a consistently high level of activity has been detected at the West Portal, it said.
"This includes a routine presence of vehicles and personnel around the portal, movement of mining carts from the portal to the adjacent spoil pile and signs of fresh spoil being dumped onto the pile," 38 North said.
"These activities suggest that tunnel excavation is underway at the West Portal, as the North Koreans expand the site's potential for future nuclear testing."
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
