Asia-Pacific News

Chinese schools were evacuated after North Korea nuclear test

May 27, 2009, 12:04 GMT

Beijing - Authorities evacuated schools in eight border districts of north-eastern China after Monday's declared nuclear test by North Korea, according to reports seen on Wednesday. The Chinese authorities also moved to reassure local residents that no earthquake had taken place, after the tremor of the nuclear blast was felt. Dozens of schools were evacuated following the shockwaves from the blast in eight districts of Yanbian, which lies about 180 kilometres from the site of the nuclear test. The schools' pupils returned to classrooms once an all-clear was sounded, local state media reported. The seismological bureau in the prefecture of Yanbian, which has a long border with North Korea in China's Jilin province, had initially said it recorded an 'earthquake of 4.5 magnitude' - at the time the nuclear test took place on Monday morning. 'There was no earthquake in Yanbian prefecture and no earthquake in Yanji city,' the city government of Yanji clarified later in a statement. 'Please citizens, don't panic,' it added. China on Tuesday said it had informed North Korea of its 'firm opposition' to its neighbour's nuclear test, again urging Pyongyang to resume negotiations on ending its nuclear weapons programme. North Korea on Wednesday fired a short-range missile across the Sea of Japan, its fifth such launch since Monday's nuclear test, which was unanimously condemned by the UN Security Council in New York.

Asia-Pacific News

Chinese schools were evacuated after North Korea nuclear test

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