North Korea's missile test threatens China and Japan, thousands of people may come in contact with radiation

Thousands of North Koreans and people in South Korea, Japan, and China may have been exposed to radioactive material spread through groundwater from an underground nuclear test site, a Seoul-based human rights group said in a report on Tuesday.

North Korea recently tested an intercontinental ballistic missile. Which shows Pyongyang's 'deadly nuclear attack capability'. This is not the first time that North Korea is making headlines for missile testing.

But now a Seoul-based human rights group said in a report Tuesday that thousands of North Koreans and people in South Korea, Japan, and China may have been exposed to radioactive material spread through groundwater.

Radioactive material may spread to eight cities and counties near the site

According to the US and South Korean governments, North Korea secretly conducted six nuclear weapons tests between 2006 and 2017 at the Punggye-ri site in mountainous North Hamgyong province, Reuters reported.

The study by the Transitional Justice Working Group said radioactive material could spread to eight cities and counties near the site, home to more than 1 million North Koreans. In this place, groundwater is used in everyday life including drinking.

China and Japan increase radiation monitoring

China and Japan have increased radiation monitoring and expressed concern over possible exposure after the North's previous nuclear tests, but have not publicly disclosed the contaminated food. Many outside experts have expressed concern over potential health risks from the contaminated water, but North Korea has dismissed such concerns, saying there have been no harmful leaks since previous nuclear tests. While Seoul and Washington have said that Pyongyang is preparing for a seventh nuclear test.

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