Magnitude of N.Korea seismic event greater than last one - CTBTO agency

Lassina Zerbo, head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), speaks during an interview with Reuters at a hotel in Seoul, South Korea, December 7, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/Files

VIENNA (Reuters) - Preliminary data collected by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna indicates that the magnitude of the seismic event detected in North Korea on Friday was greater than a previous one in January, the agency's chief said. CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo told reporters in Vienna that early information indicated a magnitude on Friday of around 5 compared to 4.8 to 4.9 in January. North Korea said on Friday that it had successfully conducted a nuclear explosion test, its fifth and most powerful atomic test to date. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Dominic Evans)