Tremor Detected from N. Korean Nuclear Test Site

KBS World Radio

Write : 2016-09-09 09:50:02 Update : 2016-09-09 10:26:49

An earthquake of a magnitude of around five on the Richter scale has been detected from the North Korean nuclear test site.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre(EMSC) said Friday that it detected the tremor at 9 a.m., South Korea time, from Punggye-ri located in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province.

The Korea Meteorological Administration(KMA) said that the tremor occurred at 9:30 a.m., calling it an artificially-created quake. The U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) concurred to the KMA assessment, saying that the tremor originates from within one-kilometer below ground.

The U.S. earthquake authority said it measured the tremor at five-point-three on the Richter scale, while the China Earthquake Administration(CEA) detected a four-point-eight magnitude quake from the North Korean region.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that it is working on finding out if the North carried out its fifth nuclear test.

The National Security Council will hold an emergency session at 11 a.m., which will presided over by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn as the president is on an overseas trip.

Friday, September ninth marks the founding day of the North Korean regime.

The military authorities of South Korea and the U.S. had been monitoring the situation at the nuclear test site.