Seoul: A 5.1 magnitude tremor was detected close to North Korea's nuclear test site on Wednesday, triggering concerns that Pyongyang had conducted a fresh atomic explosion.
The US Geological Survey said the epicentre of the quake was in the northeast of the country, some 50 kilometres northwest of Kilju city, placing it right next to the Punggye- ri nuclear test site.
According to reports in South Korean media, North Korea appears to have carried out a test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Tuesday. However, the South Korean military has said that it cannot confirm the test.
South Korea's Yonhap News Agency cited an unnamed South Korean government official as saying Pyongyang appeared to have conducted an ejection test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in December, following a reported failure of such a test in November.
A South Korean military official said that North Korea continued to developed submarine-launched missile capability but expects it will take a substantial period of time for it to be able to successfully deploy such a weapon.
In February 2013, a nuclear test 24 kilometres from Sungjibaegam in Paegam County in North Korea triggered a tremor of 5.1 magnitude.
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