“It is clear that the quake wasn’t caused by an artificial explosion.”
South Korea Meteorological Administration (Anonymous)
CTBTO Analysts are looking at an unusual seismic activity of “small magnitude” in North Korea timed at 23-SEP-2017 08:30 UTC. An artificial explosion seems unlikely. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY
UPDATE 11:49 GMT — Worldwide nuclear monitoring agency CTBTO says analysts have detected two seismic activities in North Korea which are unlikely to be manmade.
Two Seismic Events were detected around 08:29 UTC. They are unlikely Man-made. According to CTBTO Executive Secretary, these events are rather similar to the “collapse” event wich occurred 8.5 mins after the DPRK 6th test on September 3rd 2017. Analysis is ongoing. Stay tuned. — END of UPDATE
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The China’s earthquake administration first reported that a magnitude 3.4 earthquake has been detected in North Korea.
The earthquake has occurred near a North Korea nuclear test site.
Chinese seismologists suspect an explosion. [Comment: Perhaps because of the measured depth (around 0 km) or maybe because it occurs at a specific time such as exactly 08:30 UTC.]
South Korea says that it could be a natural earthquake, rather than one caused by a nuclear test.
North Korea carried out its sixth nuclear test on 3 September 2017. The magnitude was much higher, about 6.3 according to current estimates.
If true, the test would almost certainly be a “fizzle” with a yield less than a kilotons. So far, the lowest yield was mb = 4.0 (Yield = 0.5 kT) on the first test of October 9 2006.
Time & Location
“Korean Peninsula unusual #seismic activity: LAT=41.36 LON=129.76 mb=3.5 About 50 km from prior tests. #CTBT Analysts investigating,” CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo said in a Twitter post.
Tremors detected in North Korea raising fears of another nuclear test
A Nuclear Test Monitoring Agency has reported two seismic events in North Korea. Both the CTBTO Agency and South Korea said early analysis suggested it was unlikely the tremors were man-made. South Korea’s meteorological agency said early indications suggested it was a natural earthquake because no soundwaves specific to man-made tremors had been identified. The agency put the tremor at magnitude 3.0.
REFERENCES
North Korea nuclear test: Hydrogen bomb ‘missile-ready’ — BBC News
N. Korea claims successful H-bomb test for ICBM — Korea Times
North Korea’s nuclear bomb: Can we work out its power? — BBC
High-precision location and yield of North Korea’s 2013 nuclear test —
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 40, 2941- 2946
North Korea: Tremor detected in north east — BBC
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NORTH KOREA — Small Artificial Earthquake
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