The South Korean government is considering a probe into the effects of North Korea’s nuclear tests on the health of North Koreans defectors who used to live near North’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

Unification Ministry Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said on Monday, during a regular briefing, that the results of a scholar’s study on North Korean defectors from the Kilju area of North Hamgyong Province, seems to have significant reliability.

He made the remarks in response to a comment that there are rumors that North Korean residents in the region are suffering from diseases of unknown causes. The spokesman said that there will be continued activities tracking and investigating related data.

A ministry official said that the Seoul government has unofficially looked into effects of the North’s nuclear tests on environment and ecosystem in the region with the aid of the Chinese government. 

The official said that the government may launch a formal investigation on North Korean defectors to look into what effects the tests have had on their health.

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