A United States Web site devoted to analysis of North Korea says new tunneling work has been spotted at North Korea’s Punggyeri nuclear test site.
 
The Web site 38 North, a program of the U.S.-Korea Institute at John’s Hopkins University, said Wednesday that recent satellite imagery has revealed two new tunnel entrances and further excavation at the nuclear test site.
 
38 North said “excavation in the West Portal area, where North Korea’s 2009 and 2013 nuclear tests were conducted, and the South Portal area may be intended to complete new tunnels that will be used for future nuclear tests.”
 
It also said another possible explanation for the new tunneling work, particularly in the West Portal area, “is that North Korea is digging a secondary entrance to a nearby existing tunnel intended, for example, to allow increased traffic flow or ventilation.”
 
38 North said the intention and objective of such work remains unclear, but it noted there is no sign Pyongyang intends to conduct a nuclear test soon.
 
It also said ongoing activities and upgrades at the Punggyeri site indicate Pyongyang is preparing to carry out further detonations in the future as part of its nuclear weapons development program.