An artificial earthquake was detected near North Korea's nuclear test site Friday morning, causing analysts to believe the country conducted its fifth test overall and first since January.
The United States Geological Survey reports a 5.3 magnitude quake occurred around 9:30 a.m. local time, not far from Punggye-ri, the site of previous nuclear tests, and the USGS National Earthquake Information Center said it was a "possible explosion." South Korea's national security council is now holding an emergency meeting, and Japan said it is very likely the explosion was a nuclear test. The country is celebrating the 68th anniversary of the start of the communist regime by Kim Il Sung, and Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia nonproliferation program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, told The Associated Press it appears it was a test of "probably 20 to 30 kilotons, maybe more."
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