The United States Geological Survey detected a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in North Korea late Monday night.
Location: 41.299°N 129.081°E depth=1.0km (0.6mi)
Nearby Cities:
24km (15mi) ENE of Sungjibaegam, North Korea
34km (21mi) WNW of Hau-ri, North Korea
42km (26mi) NNW of Kilju, North Korea
51km (32mi) WSW of Hoemul-li, North Korea
378km (235mi) NE of Pyongyang, North Korea
ABC reported:
The U.S. Geological Survey said Tuesday it had detected a magnitude 4.9 earthquake in North Korea, but neither Pyongyang nor Seoul confirmed whether North Korea had conducted its widely anticipated third nuclear test.
The South Korean Defense Ministry said it was trying to determine whether North Korea had conducted a nuclear test. Nuclear blasts can create tremors but they are distinct from those caused by natural earthquakes.
North Korea’s powerful politburo vowed to continue firing “powerful long-range rockets,” but a statement Tuesday made no mention of Pyongyang’s promise to conduct a nuclear test.
The United States and its allies have been on edge since North Korea said last month it will conduct its third nuclear test to protest toughened sanctions over a December rocket launch that the U.N. called a cover for a banned missile test.
This looks familiar.
This nuclear test in 2009 was 40 kilometers from Kilju, North Korea — or 2 kilometers from today’s “earthquake”
Today’s “earthquake” was near the same location as the 2009 nuclear test. The 2009 blast produced shaking equivalent to an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 to 4.7.
More… Here are the details from the 2009 nuclear test. It looks like today’s blast was at a similar depth, too.
