Seismologists and geophysicists have not been as sure, saying the seismic activity they measured appeared to stem from the mine's collapse.
CNN: Camera lowered into mine cavity shows 'survivable space'
"We'll keep track of the seismic activity to see whether it continues to indicate this underthrusting of the Mediterranean subsurface underneath North Africa, " said Rinus Wortel.
The U.S. Geological Survey said it detected seismic activity with a magnitude of 5.1, bigger than the seismic activity produced in North Korea's previous two blasts.
The first indication of the latest test was seismic activity at the test site, which U.S. officials estimated at roughly magnitude 5.1.
Conditions have been imposed to minimise the risk of seismic activity.
Geologists warn that the two earthquakes occurred on the same fault line, which may signal hyperactive seismic activity in the region, South China Morning Post reports.
In general, shifting the balance of fluids underground -- whether taking more out of the ground than is put back in or vice versa -- is likely to trigger seismic activity, the report concludes.
Power-law patterns are similar to the statistical distributions of seismic activity, which inspires hope of predicting both types of calamity.
As the Korean peninsula is not prone to seismic activity, this is highly likely to indicate a nuclear test, says the Korean Yonhap news agency.
Because there was no artificial seismic activity at the time, Seoul ruled out a third North Korean underground nuclear test.
The confirmation came three hours after seismic activity was detected at North Korea's nuclear test site.
Seismic activity triggered by the test at the Punggye-ri site in the north-east of the country was detected by several nations.
North Korea confirmed the test after international monitors recorded seismic activity consistent with a powerful underground explosion at 11:57 (02:57 GMT) on Tuesday.
BBC: North Korea nuclear test branded 'serious threat' to US
It was once as high as 3, 800 meters and the surrounding area is constantly racked by seismic activity.
Indonesia sits atop a web of fault lines that makes the sprawling archipelago prone to volcanic and seismic activity.
And while seismic activity continues, so does the debate about how and when the rebuilding can begin.
Historically strong seismic activity has been observed in the Mediterranean and North-eastern Atlantic, albeit less frequently than in the Pacific Ocean.
Mehmet Ali Isikara, chief of the Kandilli Observatory, warned of "unusual" seismic activity near Istanbul.
CNN: Aftershock raises fears as Turkey quake toll reaches 7,000
So, in fact, every plant in the United States is designed to deal with whatever seismic activity is likely for that.
The U.S. Geological Survey, the federal outfit that studies earthquakes, acknowledges that increased seismic activity coincides with wastewater injection.
The criteria considered include population density, the distance to underground geological formations suitable for carbon sequestration, seismic activity, terrain, proximity to airports, military bases and so on and so forth.
Seismic activity was detected in North Korea this evening that the United States Geological Survey registered as a 5.1 magnitude earthquake.
Murray has insisted a magnitude-3.9 earthquake caused the mine collapse, and has said at least 10 "aftershocks" have been recorded, with seismic activity earlier wiping out more than 300 feet of progress and halting rescue efforts temporarily.
CNN: Camera lowered into mine cavity shows 'survivable space'
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