<p class="title">North Korea carried out what it said is the demolition of its nuclear test site today, setting off a series of explosions over several hours in the presence of foreign journalists.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The explosions at the nuclear test site deep in the mountains of the North's sparsely populated northeast were centred on three tunnels into the underground site and a number of observation towers in the surrounding area.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The planned closing was previously announced by leader Kim Jong Un ahead of his planned summit with US President Donald Trump next month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The North's decision to close the Punggye-Ri nuclear test site has generally been seen as a welcome gesture by Kim to set a positive tone ahead of the summit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even so, it is not an irreversible move and would need to be followed by many more significant measures to meet Trump's demands for real denuclearization.</p>.<p class="bodytext">By bringing in the foreign media, mainly television networks, the North is apparently hoping to have images of the closing — including explosions to collapse tunnel entrances — broadcast around the world. The group included an Associated Press Television crew.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The North did not invite international inspectors to the ceremony, which limits its value as a serious concession.</p>
<p class="title">North Korea carried out what it said is the demolition of its nuclear test site today, setting off a series of explosions over several hours in the presence of foreign journalists.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The explosions at the nuclear test site deep in the mountains of the North's sparsely populated northeast were centred on three tunnels into the underground site and a number of observation towers in the surrounding area.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The planned closing was previously announced by leader Kim Jong Un ahead of his planned summit with US President Donald Trump next month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The North's decision to close the Punggye-Ri nuclear test site has generally been seen as a welcome gesture by Kim to set a positive tone ahead of the summit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even so, it is not an irreversible move and would need to be followed by many more significant measures to meet Trump's demands for real denuclearization.</p>.<p class="bodytext">By bringing in the foreign media, mainly television networks, the North is apparently hoping to have images of the closing — including explosions to collapse tunnel entrances — broadcast around the world. The group included an Associated Press Television crew.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The North did not invite international inspectors to the ceremony, which limits its value as a serious concession.</p>