Korean blast as a part of a hydro-electric project

North Korea says last week's explosion in a remote northern area was part of a hydro-electric project. The BBC quoted the North's Foreign Minister, Paek Nam-sun, as telling visiting British official Bill Rammell that the blast was the deliberate demolition of a mountain for the project.

South Korean officials confirmed indications of a large explosions in the region bordering China but there has been no explanation by the North's official media of the explosion, says New Zealand Herald.

According to the Bloomberg, diplomats from countries including the U.K. will visit North Korea starting tomorrow to view the site of an explosion that last week prompted speculation of a &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/2001/11/11/20613.html ' target=_blank> nuclear test, a spokeswoman for the U.K.'s Foreign Office said.

The explosion occurred in Kimhyongjik-gun, located in Ryanggang province close to the border with China, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported yesterday, citing unidentified diplomats in Seoul. The blast created a mushroom cloud as wide as 4 kilometers (2.5 miles), Yonhap said.