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‘Eruptions of earth & rock’: RT witnesses N. Korea’s dismantling of Punggye-ri nuke test site ‘Eruptions of earth & rock’: RT witnesses N. Korea’s dismantling of Punggye-ri nuke test site
(about 1 hour later)
North Korea has dismantled its nuclear test site at Punggye-ri, according to RT’s Igor Zhdanov, who is part of a journalist pool that witnessed the event.North Korea has dismantled its nuclear test site at Punggye-ri, according to RT’s Igor Zhdanov, who is part of a journalist pool that witnessed the event.
According to Zhdanov, the journalists were shown three of four tunnels used for nuclear tests at the site. One of them, the northern tunnel, had been used extensively for recent nuclear testing, he said.According to Zhdanov, the journalists were shown three of four tunnels used for nuclear tests at the site. One of them, the northern tunnel, had been used extensively for recent nuclear testing, he said.
The North Koreans explained that the two other tunnels were new and would have likely been used for tests in the near future. Demolishing the tunnels, Zhdanov said, “was a real way of showing how they are ready to make real concessions.”The North Koreans explained that the two other tunnels were new and would have likely been used for tests in the near future. Demolishing the tunnels, Zhdanov said, “was a real way of showing how they are ready to make real concessions.”
He said the explosions used to destroy the tunnels were “impressive,” describing them as “small eruptions of earth and rock.” All infrastructure at the site – including barracks and security checkpoints – were destroyed by the blasts, Zhdanov reports.He said the explosions used to destroy the tunnels were “impressive,” describing them as “small eruptions of earth and rock.” All infrastructure at the site – including barracks and security checkpoints – were destroyed by the blasts, Zhdanov reports.
However, he noted that the buildings had been emptied before being demolished. “We were told that they got rid of the equipment earlier. But of course we have no way of verifying that.”However, he noted that the buildings had been emptied before being demolished. “We were told that they got rid of the equipment earlier. But of course we have no way of verifying that.”
North Korea's nuclear weapons institute said on Thursday that Pyongyang was committed to helping build a nuclear-free world. The institute said that staff from the Punggye-ri test site were being evacuated, and that it was now "impossible" for nuclear tests to be conducted there.North Korea's nuclear weapons institute said on Thursday that Pyongyang was committed to helping build a nuclear-free world. The institute said that staff from the Punggye-ri test site were being evacuated, and that it was now "impossible" for nuclear tests to be conducted there.
“Finally, being told to pack our bags, meeting in the hotel lobby in an hour. Destination: Punggye-ri nuclear test site,” Zhdanov’s last tweet reads, posted on Wednesday. He and the other journalists would have to hike for about one hour to reach the remote test site, according to Zhdanov’s previous reports.“Finally, being told to pack our bags, meeting in the hotel lobby in an hour. Destination: Punggye-ri nuclear test site,” Zhdanov’s last tweet reads, posted on Wednesday. He and the other journalists would have to hike for about one hour to reach the remote test site, according to Zhdanov’s previous reports.
Pyongyang promised to close the test site in April, announcing the decision after a historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
US President Donald Trump, who had once threatened to rain “fire and fury” down upon the regime of “little rocket man,” welcomed the development. Trump himself is now scheduled to meet with Kim in Singapore on June 12.
However, recent events have made their meeting less certain. Pyongyang cancelled high-level talks with Seoul, and threatened to pull out of the planned summit with Trump, amid joint US-South Korean military drills held last week.
Recent remarks made by US National Security Adviser John Bolton, in which he suggested that North Korea strike a deal similar to the one Libya made in 2003, have also endangered the tentative Trump-Kim meeting. Eight years after Libya gave up its nuclear weapons, its leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was overthrown and brutally murdered by NATO-backed ‘rebels.’
Trump distanced himself from Bolton’s remarks, but told North Korea that the Libyan model of regime change might become the only option if peace talks fail. The warning was later echoed by Vice President Mike Pence.
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