Seoul: North Korea experienced around three times more earthquakes last year compared to the annual averages in previous years, Seoul said on Thursday. The Korea Meteorological Administration reported that 31 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2 or higher were detected in North Korea last year. According to Anadolu Agency, this figure is about three times higher than the average of 11 earthquakes per year recorded so far, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily. Notably, approximately 20 of these earthquakes occurred in the Kilju county of the North Hamgyong province. This area is significant as it houses the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where North Korea conducted all six of its nuclear tests from 2006 to 2017. Park Sun-cheon, head of the earthquake and volcano research division at the Korea Meteorological Administration, explained that the increase in natural earthquakes is likely due to the weakening of the ground in the Kilju area following the nuclear tests.