‘Explosion’ triggers an ‘earthquake’ on North Korean border ahead of President Xi’s historic visit to Pyongyang

A LARGE tremor has been registered on North Korea’s border with China today sparking concerns of a fresh nuclear weapons test by Kim Jong-un’s military.

The “suspected explosion” triggered an earthquake in Hunchun city, in Jilin province, with a magnitude of 1.3, according to reports from the troubled region.

It’s feared the tremor may be something to do with the rogue state’s controversial nuclear missile programme or even a mining explosion.

In the past, nuclear tests by Pyongyang have caused tremors and mini quakes around the northern border China shares with North Korea.

In September 2017, a test conducted at North Korea’s nuclear site under Mount Mantap triggered a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that was felt across the border.

Seismologists later concluded that Pyongyang’s main nuclear test site had partially collapsed following the massive bomb blast, which the North later claimed was a hydrogen bomb test.

The blast happened as China’s President Xi Jinping is due to visit his nation’s 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 7.38pm local time (11:38am GMT).

President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea for two days from Thursday, state media in both countries reported today.

China is reclusive North Korea’s only major ally, and the visit comes amid renewed tensions between the US and North Korea over efforts to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons.

“Both sides will exchange views on the peninsula situation, and push for new progress in the political resolution of the peninsula issue,” China’s state broadcaster said in a lengthy news report.

The invitation was made by Kim, state media in both countries said.

Since a failed summit between Donald Trump and Kim in Hanoi earlier this year, Pyongyang has resumed some weapons tests and warned of “truly undesired consequences” if the US is not more flexible.

Last month, satellite imagery captured the precise moment North Korea fired ballistic missiles over the ocean, towards rocky islands used for target practice 200km away.

Experts said the “one-in-a-million” photo shows a smoke trail following the rocket launch, and that the projectile is likely to be a short-range missile.

If the weapons were ballistic missiles, they would have been the first fired by North Korea since its 2017 freeze in nuclear and missile testing opened the way for dialogue with the US and South Korea.

The test took place early May on North Korea’s east coast.

Leader Kim personally supervised the test of what experts believe was a short-range ballistic missile first displayed by North Korea at a military parade early last year, along with a drill involving 240mm and 300mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers.