At least 200 believed to be dead following collapse of underground nuclear compound in North Korea. Massive radiation leak feared.
David Rosenberg
An underground North Korean military facility used for nuclear tests collapsed earlier this month, Pyongyang revealed Tuesday. The collapse occurred on October 10th at the Punggye-ri underground nuclear facility, 50 miles from the Chinese border, South Korea’s Yonhap media outlet reported. According to a North Korean official, the collapse occurred during the construction of an underground tunnel. The Punggye-ri facility is located underneath the southern slope of Mount Mantap. Recent thermonuclear weapons tests at the site are believed to be responsible for the collapse. Roughly 100 people were trapped in the initial collapse, Asahi TV reported, with 100 more lost during failed rescue attempts. On Monday, South Korean weather agency chief Nam Jae-Cheol told lawmakers that the Punggye-ri facility could collapse if used for further testing, the Associated Press reported.
Last month, just after North Korea confirmed it had tested a hydrogen bomb, Chinese scientists warned that he Punggye-ri facility was at risk. Source:
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