North Korea to hold 'ceremony' for dismantling nuclear test site this month

North Korea has said it will invite international journalists to witness the dismantlement of its nuclear test site and explosive demolition of the site's tunnel system later this month, according to state media.

The destruction of the site, which follows a pledge to discontinue nuclear tests, will take place sometime between May 23 and 25 depending on weather conditions.



The country's central news agency said it would involve collapsing all of its tunnels with explosions, blocking its entrances and removing all observation facilities, research buildings and security posts.



North Korea's six known nuclear tests have taken place in Punggye-ri, a location in the north-eastern part of North Korea where a system of tunnels has been dug under Mount Mantap.



"The Nuclear Weapon Institute and other concerned institutions are taking technical measures for dismantling the northern nuclear test ground of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) in order to ensure transparency of discontinuance of the nuclear test," said the announcement.



The North said it planned to invite journalists from the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and Britain to inspect the process.



The announcement comes after US President Donald Trump said he would hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12.