Tunneling slows at N. Korea's nuclear test site: 38 North

WASHINGTON, March 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's nuclear test site shows a "significant slowdown" in tunneling and other operations, a U.S. website said Friday, citing satellite imagery.

The reduction in activity could be attributed to recent diplomacy between Pyongyang and Seoul and Washington, although it's still unclear, according to 38 North, which monitors the reclusive state.

"Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from mid-March 2018 suggests that there has been a significant slowdown in tunneling and a reduced presence of related personnel at the site when compared to just two weeks earlier," according to the website. "During this same time period, high-level talks between North and South Korea moved forward, including Pyongyang's proposal for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump."

In satellite imagery from early March, there were signs of continued tunneling excavations at the West Portal, including mining carts and "significant" amounts of new spoil deposits.

But in imagery from March 17, there was no evidence of tunneling operations or the presence of any personnel or vehicles at any of the support areas, 38 North said.

"This is an important development given efforts to establish high-level meetings between the United States, South Korea and North Korea. However, whether this is just a temporary development or whether it will continue over time is unclear," it noted.

hague@yna.co.kr
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