09:21, 25-May-2018
DPRK Nuclear Site Dismantled: Closer look at Punggye-ri test site
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Punggye-ri is the DPRK's only nuclear testing site known to the outside world. Tran Chenchen takes a closer look.
The Punggye-ri nuclear site is located in the northwest of the DPRK, next to the border with China. At less than 200 kilometers, the distance from the site to China's Yanbian autonomous prefecture is less than half that of between the site and Pyongyang.
This is an ideal place for a nuclear test. The fact that it's deep inside mountains makes it hard to detect any moves there. And the granite mountains are strong enough to resist shocks.
The site hosted all six nuclear tests Pyongyang has conducted since 2006. The most recent one was last September.
The Punggye-ri test site is built with tunnels from different directions. The eastern tunnel, which was used for the first test, has now been deserted. The structure inside a tunnel can be complicated, with more than 10 gates. Apart from underground tunnels, the site also has a few control centers on the ground, which also collect all testing data.
The dismantling is designed to not only destroy all entrances to those tunnels, but also remove all buildings above ground.
Recent satellite photos show parts of these centers have been demolished. And one photo also indicates that another new building was being built. Some reports say that could be used as an observation platform for reporters who come to watch the dismantling.