North Korea Nuke Test Could Spark 'Sacred' Volcano Eruption Which Is Supposed Birthplace Of Kim Jong-Il

Yoon Sung-ho, a geological scientist at South Korea's Pusan National University has previously warned that increased amounts of sulphur dioxide are being emitted from the mountain – an indication that the magma chamber beneath the peak is expanding.

"A nuclear test will probably exert a direct or indirect impact on volcanic activity at the mountain and this is worrying," Yoon told Yonhap News.

Previous underground detonations at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear testing ground have been limited in scale, but there are suggestions that the regime plans a major show of strength to demonstrate its anger at United Nations sanctions imposed after it test-fired a missile in December.

According to North Korean history books, Kim Il-sung organised resistance groups from camps on the mountain and his son, Kim Jong-il, was born in a hut that has been preserved to this day.

[link to www.telegraph.co.uk]