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'Pungye-ri nuclear test site may be reactivated,' 38 North says

'Pungye-ri nuclear test site may be reactivated,' 38 North says

Posted December. 14, 2018 07:47,   

Updated December. 14, 2018 07:47

한국어

38 North, a U.S.-based media that specializes in North Korea, analyzed on Wednesday (local time) that the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province may be reused. North Korea has claimed it abolished the test site.

38 North pointed out on a report it released on its website on the same day that the test site right below the Mantap Mountain appears to be abolished as a result of an explosion in May but other mountain landscapes of Punggye-ri may not have been altered to an irrecoverable level. In other words, the mines that were relatively less affected by the explosion could be used again. The report was written by Joel Wit, a senior fellow with Stimson and director of 38 North, and Frank Pabian, nuclear test expert from the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Based on a satellite picture taken on November 30, the two largest scaled buildings of the commanding headquarters (of the nuclear test site) still exist, which shows that reactivation of the test site is possible, 38 North also said.


Gi-Jae Han record@donga.com