The images from April 16 show three simultaneous volleyball games underway.
New satellite images of the nuclear testing site in North Korea have shown something unique: a series of volleyball games underway.
CLICK FOR THE IMAGES FROM 38 NORTH
As tensions between North Korea and the U. S. have increased, analysts had anticipated seeing preparatory activity for an underground explosion at the Punggye-ri nuclear testing location in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province.
But the photos taken on April 16 via a commercial satellite unveiled games of volleyball, instead.
„We see that at three locations in the facility – in the main administrative area, at the support area, at the command center and at the guard barracks near the command center – they have volleyball games going on, “ Joe Bermudez, an expert with 38 North, an independent North Korea monitoring project in Washington, explained to Reuters .
According to Bermudez, the unusual activity at the site could be for two primary reasons: either the location is moving into a “standby mode” ahead of some planned activity or, knowing that the location is under continuous satellite observation, the games were conducted in order to confuse any viewers.
