Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site

Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site (Korean: 풍계리 핵실험장) is North Korea's only known nuclear test site and is located in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province. The site is where the 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2016 North Korean nuclear tests took place.

Geography

The site is located in mountainous terrain 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Mantapsan, 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Hwasong concentration camp and 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of the Punggye-ri village, and has three visible tunnel entrances.[1]

The most proximate place to the possible nuclear underground test site is Chik-tong, a small populated place located at 41°16'00"N 129°06'00"E.[2] Sungjibaegam is a settlement located 24 kilometres (15 mi) from the tremor of the 2013 test.[3] Punggye-ri railway station is located at 41.130833° N, 129.163611° E.[4]

History

In January 2013, Google Maps was updated to include North Korea.[5] "Nuclear Test Road" can be found near the test site.[6]

On 8 April 2013, South Korea had observed activity at Punggye-ri, suggesting that a fourth underground test was being prepared.[7] It was later believed that the tunneling activity that started in April was for a long term project, and that a nuclear test wouldn't occur soon.[8]

On 6 January 2016, North Korean state media announced that they had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb at the location.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility - Facilities - NTI". NTI: Nuclear Threat Initiative.
  2. ↑ John Pike. "Chik-tong, P'unggye-yok / Punggye-ri (Kilju / Kilchu / Kisshu / Gilju)".
  3. ↑ "M5.1 – 24km ENE of Sungjibaegam, North Korea". USGS. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "P'unggye-yok, North Korea".
  5. ↑ Cavan Sieczkowski (29 January 2013). "Google Maps North Korea: Prison Camps, Nuclear Complexes Pinpointed In New Images (PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  7. ↑ "Activity at North’s nuke test site-INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily". Koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  8. ↑ 38 North (25 June 2013). "New Tunneling Activity at the North Korean Nuclear Test Site". 38 North. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "North Korea claims Thermonuclear Test". britainscoldwar.uk. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

Coordinates: 41°16′41″N 129°05′15″E / 41.2780677°N 129.087408°E / 41.2780677; 129.087408

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