Location of quake suggests DPRK nuclear testing not cause.
A magnitude five earthquake occurred 132km from the Korean peninsula early
on Tuesday morning the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has said.
The quake, which was said to have occurred at approximately 03:48 local
time took place at a depth of nearly 16km in the sea west of the Korean
peninsula just days after North Korea threatened to carry out a " new form "
of nuclear test.
While North Korean nuclear tests have previously been detected by the USGS
quake monitoring center the location and depth of Tuesdays earthquake did
not immediately suggest North Korean nuclear testing was the cause.
Although its December 2012 test M5.1 shockwave was similar in size to Tuesday’s
5.0M event it was detected by geological surveys in China and the U.S. as having
occurred in a North Korean mountain range well known for weapons testing, and
at a depth of only 1km.
On Sunday North Korea threatened to carry out a “new form” of nuclear test, but
did not clarify what it meant.
Since then some observers have suggested that, angry with recent United Nations
Security Council discussions about missile testing last week, Pyongyang may test
a fourth nuclear device in the coming months.
On Monday the two Koreas fired hundreds of rounds of artillery into waters along the
disputed Northern Limit Line.
North Korea warned its southern neighbor at short-notice that it would commence the
live fire drills which some analysts said was Pyongyang’s way of protesting ongoing joint
U.S. – South Korea military drills.
Previously, North Korea has also warned its neighbors of impeding nuclear tests, usually
also at short-notice.
Regards.
A magnitude five earthquake occurred 132km from the Korean peninsula early
on Tuesday morning the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has said.
The quake, which was said to have occurred at approximately 03:48 local
time took place at a depth of nearly 16km in the sea west of the Korean
peninsula just days after North Korea threatened to carry out a " new form "
of nuclear test.
While North Korean nuclear tests have previously been detected by the USGS
quake monitoring center the location and depth of Tuesdays earthquake did
not immediately suggest North Korean nuclear testing was the cause.
Although its December 2012 test M5.1 shockwave was similar in size to Tuesday’s
5.0M event it was detected by geological surveys in China and the U.S. as having
occurred in a North Korean mountain range well known for weapons testing, and
at a depth of only 1km.
On Sunday North Korea threatened to carry out a “new form” of nuclear test, but
did not clarify what it meant.
Since then some observers have suggested that, angry with recent United Nations
Security Council discussions about missile testing last week, Pyongyang may test
a fourth nuclear device in the coming months.
On Monday the two Koreas fired hundreds of rounds of artillery into waters along the
disputed Northern Limit Line.
North Korea warned its southern neighbor at short-notice that it would commence the
live fire drills which some analysts said was Pyongyang’s way of protesting ongoing joint
U.S. – South Korea military drills.
Previously, North Korea has also warned its neighbors of impeding nuclear tests, usually
also at short-notice.
Regards.
Last edited by a moderator: