gg2
North Korean nuclear test triggers earthquakes
The gist
A study finds North Korea's 2017 nuclear test triggered 1,399 earthquakes near Mount Mantap.
The finding suggests test sites can stay seismically active for years, complicating monitoring.
How it unfolded
- Oct 2006North Korea conducted its first underground nuclear test at the Punggye-ri site beneath Mount Mantap.
- 2013The first earthquake recorded in the Mount Mantap area came after North Korea's third nuclear test.
- Sep 3, 2017North Korea conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test, unleashing an estimated 100 to 250 kilotons of energy and producing a magnitude 6.3 earthquake. Just 8.5 minutes later, instruments detected a magnitude 4.1 seismic event interpreted as the collapse of the newly formed cavity.