PhotoSEOUL, South Korea — Four defectors from the area near North Korea’s nuclear testing site showed symptoms that could be attributed to radiation exposure, but scientists said they could not conclude that the health problems had been caused by a nuclear test, the South Korean government said on Wednesday. The four arrived in South Korea from Kilju, a county in northeastern North Korea that includes Punggye-ri, where the North has conducted all six of its nuclear tests in tunnels dug deep beneath the mountains. South Korea began conducting medical exams of defectors from that region in October, a month after the North conducted its biggest test explosion yet. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyUnconfirmed news reports claimed that some residents in Kilju had fallen sick from radiation exposure. Earlier this month, an official newspaper in a Chinese province adjoining North Korea offered its readers tips on how to protect themselves from nuclear fallout.

Source: New York Times December 27, 2017 07:31 UTC