An official of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) confirmed Monday that last week's explosion in the country's northern region was part of a power plant project.

The official told Xinhua that Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun had told visiting British Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell that the blast was conducted to demolish a mountain for the project.

Outside media reported last week that a large explosion happened in the northern region of the DPRK on Sept. 9. Initial reports of a possible nuclear test had been denied by South Korean and US officials for lacking signature signs.

Source: Xinhua