North Korean Border City Rocked by Apparent Deadly Explosion
At least 15 dead after explosion caused by gas leak, reports say. 
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — A series of explosions rocked a North Korean city near the border with China this week, according to multiple reports, resulting in possible casualties. Neither North Korean officials nor state media have commented on the blasts, which reportedly occurred late Monday in a residential area in the city of Hyesan. Videos, posted by the Associated Press and the Seoul-based Daily NK, showed repeated explosions, along with orange flames and dark smoke rising from a neighborhood in Hyesan. The videos were shot from China, which lies just across the Yalu River from North Korea. Daily NK, which relies on a network of anonymous sources across North Korea, reported that the explosion killed at least 15 people. That figure has not been confirmed. The outlet said the initial blast appeared to be caused by a gas leak in a house, which exploded a liquid petroleum gas cylinder. That set off as many as 10 other explosions at nearby houses, it reported. North Korea frequently does not report deadly accidents.