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A picture on the assumed explosion site in North Korea's Ryanggang Province taken by satellite Arirang 1 at 10: 59 a.m. Wednesday. /provided by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute
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A team of international diplomats got their first-hand look at the site of a mysterious explosion last week in North Korea. But for now, the group is unable to conclude what caused the blast which formed a mushroom cloud. This was what had prompted speculation that the North had possibly conducted a nuclear test. Also, more doubts are emerging from this trip, with reports now indicating that the group was taken to an area which is about 60 kilometers away from the actual blast site.
Following days of speculations over what was behind the massive explosions in North Korea's remote Ryanggang Province, a group of diplomats on Thursday visited the blast site, located close to the border with China, for about two hours.
Diplomats from seven countries including Britain, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Mongolia were taken to the site where work is underway to construct a hydroelectric power plant. Initially, representatives from eight countries were slated to go, but an Indian diplomat pulled out at the last minute.
The group members were reportedly given an explanation by North Korean officials there that two explosions went off back-to-back a week ago to blow up a mountain for a large-scale hydroelectric project.
But it remains unclear if they were taken to the actual site of the blast. Media reports indicate the place they visited was Samsu County, about 100 kilometers away from Kim Hyong Jik Country where the blasts were spotted on satellite photos.
According to Wojciech Kaluza, the Polish ambassador in Pyongyang, who sent his deputy to the site, the diplomats were given details of the explosions. But he told Japan's Kyodo News he could not provide concrete figures, because he had only received a preliminary report from his deputy, and that he expects to have a clearer idea after a meeting among European Union ambassadors Friday morning.
Though South Korean and U.S. officials doubt the explosions were part of a nuclear test, they have questioned North Korea's version of the story, calling it plausible, but that there are missing pieces to the puzzle.
According to Japan's Kyodo News, the German ambassador to Pyongyang who visited the blast site says his group was told by a North Korean engineer there that the North is planning to carry out more explosions.
Arirang TV
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