Country profile · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in North Korea

North Korea ranks 139th of 215 countries by catalogued seismic activity - a country with limited but non-zero seismic activity. Below: the full M6+ event history, magnitude and depth profile, and yearly trend, straight from USGS data.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

12
M4+ events (since 2005): 7
Major M6+ (since 1900): M6.8
Strongest: ~1
M4+ per year

The verdict

North Korea has logged 12 M4+ earthquakes since 2005 and 7 major M6+ events since 1900, the strongest reaching magnitude 6.8.

#139
of 215 countries by M4+ activity: 12
catalogued M4+ events (2005–present): M6.8
strongest earthquake on record: 7
major M6+ events since 1900

Average catalogued magnitude is 4.6 - most events are moderate M4–5 tremors that are felt but rarely cause damage.

1905

1
1952

1
1954

1
1960

1
1973

1
1979

1
1990

1

What this shows North Korea's most active year for major earthquakes was 1905 (1 M6+ events). Major-quake counts are irregular, they track the episodic release of tectonic stress, not a smooth trend.

Magnitude distribution of major events

Breakdown of the 7 significant (M6+) earthquakes on record for North Korea.

M6.0-6.9

100.0%

Depth of major earthquakes

Hypocentral depth of the 7 M6+ events, shallow quakes shake the surface hardest. Average depth: 487 km.

Shallow (<70 km)

14.3% of events

Intermediate (70–300 km)

0.0% of events

Deep (>300 km)

85.7% of events

Strongest earthquakes in North Korea

The 7 most powerful events on record (USGS, since 1900).

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.8	108 km SSE of Kilju, North Korea	607.5 km	Oct 8, 1960
6.6	5 km SE of Namyang, North Korea	470.0 km	Aug 25, 1905
6.5	61 km SSE of Ungsang-nodongjagu, North Korea	575.0 km	Sep 29, 1973
6.4	212 km ESE of Hoemul-li, North Korea	551.7 km	Nov 19, 1954
6.3	67 km SE of Rajin, North Korea	578.5 km	May 11, 1990
6.3	3 km ENE of Chunghwa, North Korea	35.0 km	Mar 19, 1952
6.1	64 km SE of Rajin, North Korea	588.0 km	Aug 16, 1979

Significant earthquake record (7 events)

Every catalogued magnitude-6.0-and-above earthquake in North Korea since 1900, most recent first.

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
6.3	67 km SE of Rajin, North Korea	578.5 km	May 11, 1990
6.1	64 km SE of Rajin, North Korea	588.0 km	Aug 16, 1979
6.5	61 km SSE of Ungsang-nodongjagu, North Korea	575.0 km	Sep 29, 1973
6.8	108 km SSE of Kilju, North Korea	607.5 km	Oct 8, 1960
6.4	212 km ESE of Hoemul-li, North Korea	551.7 km	Nov 19, 1954
6.3	3 km ENE of Chunghwa, North Korea	35.0 km	Mar 19, 1952
6.6	5 km SE of Namyang, North Korea	470.0 km	Aug 25, 1905

Countries with similar seismic activity

Comparable catalogued earthquake frequency to North Korea.

Comoros

12 M4+ events · strongest M5.1

M5.1

Guyana

12 M4+ events · strongest M5.5

M5.5

Kuwait

12 M4+ events · strongest M4.7

M4.7

Lebanon

12 M4+ events · strongest M5.1

M5.1

Angola

11 M4+ events · strongest M5.1

M5.1

Botswana

13 M4+ events · strongest M6.5

M6.5

Understand the data

How earthquakes are measured

Magnitude scales, seismographs, and depth.

Reading earthquake data

Interpreting magnitude, depth and frequency.

Earthquake preparedness

Before, during and after a quake.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes have occurred in North Korea? ▼

The USGS catalog records 12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in North Korea since 2005, an average of about 1 per year. Separately, 7 significant (M6+) earthquakes are catalogued back to 1900.

What was the strongest earthquake in North Korea? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in North Korea measured magnitude 6.8. Across the full M4+ catalog the average magnitude is 4.6 - most earthquakes are moderate.

How seismically active is North Korea? ▼

By catalogued M4+ activity, North Korea ranks 139th of 215 countries worldwide - a country with limited but non-zero seismic activity. Its busiest year for major (M6+) events was 1905, with 1.

How deep are earthquakes in North Korea? ▼

Across the 7 major (M6+) events on record, the average depth is 487 km. 14% were shallow (under 70 km), where surface shaking is strongest at a given magnitude.

Where does this data come from? ▼

Every figure is derived from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat). M4+ counts cover 2005 onward (the period of consistent global completeness); the significant-event series covers M6+ back to 1900. Nothing is modelled or estimated.

About this data

Every figure on this page is computed directly from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), the public-domain record maintained by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Two series are combined: a worldwide catalog of magnitude-4.0-and-above events from 2005 onward, the period over which the global seismograph network reliably detects and locates earthquakes everywhere, and a historical series of significant magnitude-6.0-and-above events stretching back to 1900. Magnitudes use the moment-magnitude scale (Mw), the modern standard that supersedes the older Richter scale; because the scale is logarithmic, each whole step represents roughly thirty-two times more energy released. Depth is measured in kilometres from the surface, and shallow earthquakes generally produce stronger shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. Counts reflect what instruments recorded, not every tremor that occurred, and recent events can be revised as seismologists refine the catalog.

Source: USGS ComCat, verify with USGS → · See our methodology for the full pipeline.

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