N. Korea nuclear tests reactivated dormant faults: study

Repeated North Korea nuclear tests at the Punggye-ri site have reactivated dormant faults beneath Mount Mantap, a study found. A team led by Pusan National University professor Kim Kwang-hee analyzed 17 years of seismic data and published the work in Science on Friday. The study says underground explosions damaged the shallow crust, changed stress on nearby faults, and triggered more than 1,000 earthquakes. The strongest quake reached magnitude 3.4, and the researchers warned the fault zone could potentially produce a much larger quake if fully reactivated.

The research analyzed seismic data collected in South Korea and northeastern China from 2008 to May 2025.

Historical records showed no seismic activity around Mount Mantap before North Korea began nuclear testing at Punggye-ri in 2006.

About 60 earthquakes were detected between 2006 and the sixth nuclear test in 2017, and about 1,330 earthquakes have been detected since then.

The earthquakes grew stronger over time, rising from around magnitude 1.0 to 1.3 in the early years to above 3.0 in 2023 and 2024.

Most of the earthquakes were detected within 1 kilometer of the surface, unlike typical earthquakes in Korea that occur around 15 kilometers deep.

Published Sep 18, 2026 12:43 pm KST

Over 1,300 earthquakes triggered near Punggye-ri

The command post at North Korea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site is seen before its demolition, May 25, 2018. Yonhap

Repeated nuclear tests at North Korea’s Punggye-ri site appear to have reactivated dormant faults beneath Mount Mantap, triggering more than 1,000 earthquakes in the area, a new study has found.

A research team led by Kim Kwang-hee, a professor of geological sciences at Pusan National University, analyzed seismic data collected in South Korea and northeastern China over 17 years, from 2008 to May 2025. The study, conducted jointly with researchers from several Chinese institutions, was published Friday in the international journal Science.

The research found that repeated underground nuclear explosions progressively damaged the shallow crust and altered stress on nearby faults, causing previously quiet fault zones to become active.

Historical earthquake records showed no seismic activity around Mount Mantap before North Korea began nuclear testing at the Punggye-ri site in 2006. About 60 earthquakes were detected between 2006 and the sixth nuclear test in 2017, with seismic activity gradually increasing after the third test in 2013.

The most dramatic change came after the sixth and most powerful test in 2017. Seismic activity intensified about 20 days later and some 1,330 earthquakes have since been detected, concentrated along two north-northwest-trending fault zones stretching about 24 kilometers.

The earthquakes also became stronger over time, rising from magnitudes of around 1.0 to 1.3 in the early years to above 3.0 in 2023 and 2024. The strongest recorded earthquake reached magnitude 3.4.

Kim estimated that the 24-kilometer fault zone could generate an earthquake of up to magnitude 6.4 if it were fully reactivated at once.

The research team said repeated explosions likely caused cracks and damage to accumulate in the shallow crust beneath Mount Mantap, while changing stress conditions in surrounding areas and gradually reactivating dormant faults.

The earthquakes were also unusually shallow. While earthquakes in Korea typically occur at depths of around 15 kilometers, most of those around Mount Mantap were detected within 1 kilometer of the surface.

The findings suggest the geological effects of underground nuclear tests can persist and even intensify for years after testing ends, depending on local geological conditions and the stress state of nearby faults.

The researchers said the results could also have implications for monitoring former nuclear test sites, as delayed earthquakes caused by testing may be difficult to distinguish from naturally occurring seismic activity.

Distribution of earthquakes around North Korea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site / Courtesy of Pusan National University

一项研究发现，朝鲜在丰溪里核试验场的多次核试验激活了万塔山下方的休眠断层。由釜山国立大学教授金光熙领导的研究团队分析了17年的地震数据，并将研究成果于周五发表在《科学》杂志上。该研究指出，地下爆炸破坏了浅层地壳，改变了附近断层的应力，并引发了1000多次地震。其中最强的一次地震震级达到3.4级。研究人员警告说，如果该断层带完全激活，可能会引发震级更大的地震。

该研究分析了 2008 年至 2025 年 5 月在韩国和中国东北地区收集的地震数据。

历史记录显示，在朝鲜于 2006 年在丰溪里进行核试验之前，万塔山周围没有地震活动。

从 2006 年到 2017 年第六次核试验期间，大约探测到 60 次地震；从那以后，大约探测到 1330 次地震。

随着时间的推移，地震强度不断增强，从早期的 1.0 到 1.3 级左右上升到 2023 年和 2024 年的 3.0 级以上。

大多数地震的震源深度都在地表以下 1 公里以内，这与韩国典型的地震（震源深度约为 15 公里）不同。

发布于2026年9月18日下午12:43（韩国标准时间）

丰溪里附近发生超过1300次地震

2018年5月25日，朝鲜丰溪里核试验场的指挥所被拆除前景象。（韩联社）

一项新的研究发现，朝鲜丰溪里核试验场反复进行的核试验似乎重新激活了万塔山下的休眠断层，引发了该地区 1000 多次地震。

由釜山国立大学地质科学教授金光熙领导的研究团队分析了2008年至2025年5月期间在韩国和中国东北地区收集的17年地震数据。这项研究由该团队与多家中国机构的研究人员共同完成，并于周五发表在国际期刊《科学》上。

研究发现，反复的地下核爆炸逐渐破坏了浅层地壳，改变了附近断层的应力，导致以前平静的断层带变得活跃起来。

历史地震记录显示，在朝鲜于 2006 年在丰溪里进行核试验之前，万塔山附近没有地震活动。从 2006 年到 2017 年第六次核试验期间，大约探测到 60 次地震，地震活动在 2013 年第三次核试验后逐渐增加。

最剧烈的变化发生在 2017 年第六次也是威力最大的一次试验之后。大约 20 天后，地震活动加剧，此后已探测到约 1330 次地震，集中在两条北北西走向的断裂带上，这两条断裂带绵延约 24 公里。

随着时间的推移，地震的强度也越来越大，从早期的 1.0 到 1.3 级左右上升到 2023 年和 2024 年的 3.0 级以上。有记录以来最强烈的地震达到了 3.4 级。

金估计，如果这条 24 公里长的断裂带同时完全重新活动，可能会引发震级高达 6.4 级的地震。

研究团队表示，反复的爆炸可能导致曼塔普山下方的浅层地壳出现裂缝和损伤，同时改变周围地区的应力条件，并逐渐重新激活休眠断层。

这些地震的震源深度也异常浅。虽然韩国的地震通常发生在15公里左右的深度，但万塔山附近的大多数地震震源深度都在1公里以内。

研究结果表明，地下核试验的地质影响可能会持续甚至加剧数年，具体时间取决于当地的地质条件和附近断层的应力状态。

研究人员表示，研究结果也可能对监测以前的核试验场产生影响，因为试验引起的延迟地震可能难以与自然发生的地震活动区分开来。

朝鲜丰溪里核试验场周边地震分布图 / 图片由釜山国立大学提供