3.2-magnitude quake hits Sangju

By Park Si-soo

A 3.2-magnitude earthquake rattled Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, at 0:52 a.m. on Thursday.

The epicenter was 20 kilometers north of the city and 21 kilometers underground, said the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

Tremors were felt across the province and as far away as Gangwon, Daejeon, Sejong and North Jeolla Province, said KMA. There were no immediate reports of casualties or property damage, officials said.

The quake occurred about 15 hours after a 2.5-magnitude earthquake was detected near North Korea's nuclear test site in Gilju, North Hamgyong Province, which experts here say was an "induced earthquake" from a powerful underground nuclear test in 2017.

An induced earthquake refers to a minor quake driven by altered geological stresses and strains on the Earth's crust.