Satellite imagery shows fire occurred at building in central Pyongyang in early November: official

The 105-story Ryugyong Hotel is seen in Pyongyang, North Korea, Oct. 7, 2018. Korea Times file

Satellite imagery has shown that a fire broke out at a large-scale building in central Pyongyang in early November, with the extent of the damage yet to be determined, a unification ministry official said Tuesday.

The fire is believed to have occurred around Nov. 2 at a building measuring roughly 50 meters in both length and width in central Pyongyang, near the Ryugyong Hotel, the official told reporters.

Further analysis is needed to determine the extent of the fire's damage or the nature of the affected building, in the absence of related reports from North Korean media, the official also said

NK News has earlier reported that a fire on Nov. 2 reduced a building — likely a factory or warehouse — in central Pyongyang to ashes, releasing satellite imagery showing a tall column of smoke rising from the structure.