SEOUL, Sept. 8 (UPI) — Experts believe North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test on Friday morning, following a 5.3 magnitude earthquake detected near the country’s test site.
The “artificial quake” was very similar to those during previous North Korean nuclear tests leading a South Korean government source to conclude there was a “high possibility” the quake was a result of the rogue nation’s latest test, though North Korea has not confirmed it.
Other hints of a nuclear test are satellite imagery showing recent activity at the Punggye-ri site — the location of the previous tests — and the date. The quake took place on the 68th anniversary of the country.
Prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has called an emergency meeting of South Korea’s National Security Council.
On Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center announced on its website that it had detected a 5.3 magnitude seismic event near Ryanggang in North Korea.
USGS stated on its website: “Possible explosion, located near the location where North Korea has detonated nuclear explosions in the past. If this is indeed an explosion, the USGS National Earthquake Information Center cannot determine what type of explosion it may be, whether nuclear or any other possible type”
The event occurred very early Friday morning (00:30:01.930 Coordinated Universal Time) in Korea.
