Politics
16:50, 11-Sep-2017
China's tests show no environmental impact from DPRK nuclear test
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China has ended its emergency radiation monitoring after detecting no environmental impact from the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on September 3.
All monitoring stations in the northeastern border areas and surrounding regions, including the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Shandong, recorded normal radiation levels as of 6 p.m. Sunday, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).
No abnormal results were seen after eight days of monitoring, the MEP said.
This before-and-after images courtesy of Planet, show the Punggye-ri test site where on September 3, 2017, the DPRK claimed to have conducted the undeground explosion of a hydrogen bomb. /AFP Photo
This before-and-after images courtesy of Planet, show the Punggye-ri test site where on September 3, 2017, the DPRK claimed to have conducted the undeground explosion of a hydrogen bomb. /AFP Photo
"A comprehensive assessment has concluded that this DPRK nuclear test has caused no environmental impact on China, and conditions for a termination [of the emergency monitoring] have been met," it said.
The ministry said it would switch to routine monitoring after the emergency response ended, conducting automatic radiation monitoring and regular sampling analysis at key border areas.
This photo taken on September 6, 2017 shows participants of a mass celebration in Pyongyang for scientists involved in carrying out DPRK's largest nuclear blast to date. /AFP Photo
This photo taken on September 6, 2017 shows participants of a mass celebration in Pyongyang for scientists involved in carrying out DPRK's largest nuclear blast to date. /AFP Photo
Real-time radiation levels recorded at automatic monitoring stations in and near the northeastern border areas will continue to be made public to address people's concerns, the MEP said.
The China Earthquake Administration reported that a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the DPRK at 11:30 a.m. on September 3 with an epicenter depth of zero km, saying that it might have been caused by explosion.
The DPRK's Korea Central Television announced on the same day that the country had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb that can be carried by an intercontinental ballistic missile.
China's Foreign Ministry has expressed firm opposition to and strong condemnation of the test.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency