Nuclear tests at Mt. Mantap have reactivated intraplate faults
Underground nuclear explosions typically produce short-lived seismic sequences that decay rapidly after testing ceases. In contrast, seismicity near the Punggye-ri nuclear test site at Mt. Mantap in DPRK has persisted and intensified for years after the final large-yield explosion in 2017, evolving from diffuse activity to spatially organized distribution along fault-controlled structures. Analysis of 17 years of continuous waveform data reveals a progressive increase in seismicity and delayed reactivation of shallow faults. Earthquakes cluster beneath asymmetric topography, indicating progressive stress redistribution within a critically stressed crustal volume. These observations challenge conventional expectations, showing that under specific geological conditions, underground nuclear testing can drive multi-year fault reactivation and extend post-test seismicity well beyond the immediate aftermath of an explosion.
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