Recent reports indicate that some areas of the Punggye-ri test site have become unstable after the latest and largest nuclear test in September. Pyongyang has publicly invited international media to witness the destruction, but not technical inspectors, leaving disarmament experts and nuclear scientists wondering how effective the plan is – and whether it will be safe. And even if all the testing tunnels are destroyed, North Korean engineers could simply dig a new one if they want to conduct another nuclear test.ĭisarmament experts have raised many such scenarios after North Korea said over the weekend that it would use explosives to collapse the tunnels of its Punggye-ri nuclear test site next week. Nuclear material might be buried, but accessible enough to be dug up and reused in a weapon.
SEOUL/WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - Shutting down North Korea's nuclear test site is trickier than it might seem.Ī botched tunnel collapse could spread radioactive debris.
