A powerful explosion measured 5.3 in magnitude has been reported at the site of North Korea’s bomb tests by the US Geological Survey (USGS), triggering reports of an apparent nuclear test.
There is a “high possibility” that a seismic event was a human-made explosion, a government source told South Korea’s state Yonhap news agency. The fact that the depth of the suspicious quake was estimated to be 0km indicates that the blast likely occurred on the surface.
USGS itself commented on the event calling it a “possible explosion, located near the location where North Korea has detonated nuclear explosions in the past.” It added that if this indeed was an explosion, “the USGS National Earthquake Information Center cannot determine what type of explosion it may be, whether nuclear or any other possible type.”
USGS detects M5.3 Explosion – 15km ENE of Sungjibaegam, North Korea
USGS detects 5.3 magnitude seismic event near North Korea nuclear site; no confirmation of test