The tremor has been recorded as magnitude 1.3. The Chinese authorities have revealed the quake at around 1.45pm UK-time. The incident comes just an hour after it was revealed China’s President Xi Jimping was making a visit to its reclusive neighbour – the first Beijing leader to head to North Korea in 14 years.
According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, the earthquake occurred at 19:38 local time (GMT 11:38) in Hunchun city in northeastern Jilin province with a zero-metre depth.
nuclear test by Pyongyang would threaten already fragile relations with the west, which were slowly being rebuilt following meetings between North Korea leader Kim Jong-un and American President Donald Trump.
Today South Korean news said North Korean soldiers were told Kim would not give up nuclear weapons in order to “solidify the nation’s position as a nuclear power”.
A document, seen by sources, claims to describe North Korea’s nuclear capabilities as an “all-round security sword”. It claims Kim wants to make the United States “apologise for decades of bullying”ti
The AFP news agency said authorities thought a “suspected explosion was triggered by an earthquake”.
Recently a South Korean human rights group claimed the Hermit State was responsible for 323 state-sanctioned execution sites.
Transition Justice Working Group, spoke to 610 North Korean defectors, all of who gave the information of the execution sites with the aid of satellite imagery
More to follow. This is a breaking news story. Refresh for updates.