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| The quake occurred about 36 kilometers north-northwest of Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, at 2:33 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). A picture of Onsong County, North Hamgyong Province, taken in February 2018. (Photo by= Daily NK) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] SEOUL: South Korea's state weather agency announced that a 2.3 magnitude natural earthquake hit near North Korea's nuclear testing site Monday, the second tremor that has struck the region in recent days.
The quake occurred about 36 kilometers north-northwest of Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, at 2:33 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). It’s the second tremor in the area since a 3.1 magnitude natural earthquake struck the region on Friday. Kilju is where North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear testing site is located. Over 20 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or bigger have struck regions near Kilju since 1978, with a 3.2 magnitude quake that occurred Sept. 23, 2017, being the strongest.
The epicenter of Monday's quake was at a latitude of 41.27 degrees north and a longitude of 129.24 degrees east at a depth of 22 km. The KMA said the quake occurred naturally. So far, seven quakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or bigger have been reported on the Korean Peninsula this year.
