North Korea’s Nuclear Tests May Have Triggered 1,399 Earthquakes Since 2013, Study Reveals
North Korea's nuclear tests may have triggered years of earthquake activity around Mount Mantap, its main nuclear test site, a new study has found. Researchers detected 1,399 earthquakes between 2008 and 2025, with seismic activity rising sharply after the country's sixth and largest nuclear test in 2017.
North Korea's underground nuclear tests may have triggered a prolonged increase in earthquake activity around Mount Mantap, the country's main nuclear test site, according to a new study. Researchers analysed seismic data from 2008 to 2025 and detected 1,399 earthquakes in the area, where North Korea conducted six nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017.
The findings suggest that seismic activity around Mount Mantap increased significantly after North Korea's sixth and largest nuclear test in 2017. The study found that both the frequency and strength of the earthquakes have increased over time, an unusual pattern for seismic activity associated with underground nuclear explosions.
Earthquake Activity Increased After 2017 Nuclear Test
Researchers said the area around Mount Mantap had experienced very little seismic activity for roughly 2,000 years before North Korea began its nuclear testing programme.
The first earthquake detected in the study area occurred in 2013, following North Korea's third nuclear test. However, seismic activity remained limited in the years that followed. Why Was North Korea’s Defence Minister No Kwang Chol Dismissed?
That changed after the country's sixth nuclear test in September 2017. The explosion produced an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.3 and was believed to have caused a tunnel collapse and altered the mountain's summit by around three metres.
Most of the earthquakes recorded since then have been relatively small, with magnitudes generally between 2 and 3 and occurring at shallow depths.
Nuclear Explosion May Have Reactivated Faults
Researchers believe the 2017 nuclear explosion may have altered geological conditions beneath Mount Mantap.
According to the study, the blast may have reactivated existing dormant faults within the mountain. The explosion could also have created new fractures in the surrounding rocks. Asian Games 2026: North Korean Anthem Played for South Korea Ahead of Hockey Match vs Bangladesh.
Scientists believe water entering these cracks may have increased pore pressure underground. This could weaken the rocks and cause them to slip along existing faults, triggering a sequence of small earthquakes.
The researchers noted that the continued rise in seismic activity years after the nuclear test is unusual and could provide important information about the long-term geological effects of underground nuclear explosions.
What The Study Found
The researchers analysed seismic records covering the period from 2008 through 2025 to examine changes in earthquake activity around Mount Mantap.
The study found that seismicity remained sparse until 2017, when activity increased markedly following North Korea's largest nuclear detonation. The findings suggest that the mountain's underground structure may not have returned to its pre-test condition.
The researchers cautioned that the earthquakes themselves are relatively weak, but the continuing activity provides evidence that underground nuclear explosions can produce geological effects that persist for years.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2026 07:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
