Is North Korea's Nuclear Test Site Collapsing?

摘要

1. Amid unconfirmed reports of a tunnel collapse at North Korea's nuclear test site, the head of South Korea's weather agency told a parliamentary hearing Oct. 30 that satellite imagery indicates such a cave-in could occur if another device is detonated, with radiation possibly spreading to Japan and other nearby countries depending on weather conditions. "Based on our analysis of satellite imagery, we judge that there is a hollow space, which measures about 60 to 100 meters [in length], at the bottom of Mount Mantap in the Punggye-ri [nuclear test] site," said Nam Jae-cheol, head of the Korea Meteorological Administration, according to Nikkei. "So, should another nuke test occur, there is the possibility [of a collapse]." According to Japan's TV Asahi, which cited North Korean sources and first reported the alleged incident, a tunnel at the test site collapsed on some 100 workers sometime after the powerful underground nuclear test on Sep. 3, and that another 100 laborers sent to rescue them died in a second collapse. An Oct. 17 article on 38 North's website dismissed the idea that so-called "tired mountain syndrome" would prevent further testing, noting that there are two additional underground tunnels that could be used. But a US expert said that problems at the site "may explain why there has not been any further nuclear testing or evidence of preparations for another test at the site." He also warned that such problems "might encourage the North to conduct an atmospheric test, as they have threatened to do" both in the UN General Assembly in September and again last week.