38 North: "No Signs of Restoration at Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site Abandoned 3 Years Ago"

Satellite image of the North Korean nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, taken by the private satellite company DigitalGlobe on May 23, 2018 [Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The U.S.-based North Korea specialist media 38 North reported on the 9th (local time) that there appears to be no signs that North Korea is attempting to restore the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which was dismantled three years ago.

38 North stated that over the past three years, only limited activities such as foot patrols, radiation detection, and flood damage repair work have been observed near the test site. While evidence of personnel presence at the site has been confirmed in the past six months, no other significant new activities have been detected.

38 North said, "If the tunnels at the Punggye-ri test site remain intact, the facility could be restored," adding, "Such movements can be confirmed via satellite, but there has been no indication that North Korea has plans to do so."

In particular, a major access route leading to the test site was severely damaged last fall, but there were no signs of efforts to repair it or prepare for flood damage. Although some roads leading to the test site have been partially restored, the western entrance remains collapsed, making it difficult for vehicles to pass, and the northern and eastern entrances can only be accessed on foot.

At the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, six nuclear tests were conducted from the first test on October 9, 2006, through September 2017.

North Korea dismantled the nuclear test site by blowing up tunnels on May 24, 2018, to demonstrate its commitment to denuclearization ahead of the first summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.