What happens if they drop the bombs?

What happens if they drop the bombs?

A SOUTH Korean parliamentary audit committee has been warned of a potentially deadly clouds of radioactive gas and dust.

That’s the worst-case scenario presented overnight by the chief of South Korea’s national weather agency — Nam Jae-cheol.

“Based on our analysis of satellite imagery, we judge that there is a hollow space, which measures about 60 to 100 meters, at the bottom of Mount Mantap in the Punggye-ri site,” he said. “So, should another nuke test occur, there is the possibility (of collapse).”

According to the Yonhap news service, troubled parliamentarians asked: “Is there a risk of radiation?”

Nam replied: “Should it sink, there is a possibility.”

SHAKEN TO THE CORE

Fears about the state of Mount Mantap in North Korea’s northeast were first raised by nuclear weapons analysts in the days and weeks following Kim Jong-un’s most recent underground test in September — by far the biggest yet.

He declared it to have been a thermonuclear device, representing a significant step forward in the power and scope of his nuclear weapons program.

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But international nuclear test monitors have detected a series of three-to-four small earthquakes emanating from the Punggye-ri test site (at Mount Mantap) in the days and weeks since.

These, they say, are likely caused by subsidence.

Essentially, the mountain is beginning to fall into the cavities left behind after the nuclear blast vaporised surrounding rock.

It’s a fear being repeated by Chinese experts, reports the South China Morning Post.

Researchers at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics have reportedly warned North Korea of an impending implosion at Punggye-ri — just 100km east of the border with China.

It follows earlier reports of Chinese experts fearing a fracture of Mount Mantap releasing clouds of radioactivity into the atmosphere.

Mount Mantap has been the site of the past five out of six of North Korean underground nuclear tests. These have been conducted at one test site under the mountain, via what is called the North Portal.

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Analysis of satellite photo and sensor data shows the mountain has undergone widespread surface disturbances, particularly from the most recent test.

HEART OF THE MOUNTAIN

Earlier this month North Korea think-tank 38 North published details of the state of Mount Mantap.

It points out such subsidence events were common at the US Nevada Test Site and warns Punggye-ri is not likely to be abandoned any time soon.

“Even in the face of what has been dubbed ‘Tired Mountain Syndrome,’ abandonment of the site for nuclear testing should not be expected,” the report reads.

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“Such historical precedent, combined with the presence of two other, as yet unused tunnel complexes within the test site, leads us to conclude that there is no valid reason to assume that the Punggye-ri test site is unable to contain additional underground nuclear tests.”

Post-nuclear test tremors at Mt. Mantap are not unexpected, given the yield of #DPRK's last nuke test. But that doesn't mean the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site will be abandoned. https://t.co/rNsIVD6vfN — 38 North (@38NorthNK) October 17, 2017

The report says speculation that the post-test earthquake-like events were structural collapses or cave-ins remains unconfirmed.

“Nonetheless, based on the severity of the initial blast, the post-test tremors, and the extent of observable surface disturbances, we have to assume that there must have been substantial damage to the existing tunnel network under Mt. Mantap,” the report reads.

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“If North Korea were to attempt to continue testing under this mountain (such as, in the area more to the eastern side), then we would expect to see new tunnelling in the future near the North Portal, still under Mt. Mantap.

“A lack of new tunnelling in this area would provide evidence that this mountain has been abandoned for future testing. However, complete abandonment of the test site as a whole remains unlikely.”