The position measurement of the 25 May 2009 “nuclear” test, with errors. Up until now, I have been very skeptical of suggestions that the DPRK 2009 nuclear test was actually a conventional explosion. But because of a very interesting presentation here in Shanghai, I have changed my mind. (See Josh’s post for a discussion of …
UCS Summer Symposium 2009
by | 2009-07-18 | 4 Comments
UCS Summer Symposium at Fudan University’s Center for American Studies Hello from Shanghai! I’m here in this booming Chinese city for the 21st annual UCS Summer Symposium and it’s off to a great start. For those of you who don’t know about it, UCS brings together a small group of scientists (mostly in the hard …
Useful Fictions and Big Whoppers
by | 2009-07-17 | 21 Comments
Bernard Brodie wrote in The Absolute Weapon that, “Everything about the atomic bomb is overshadowed by the twin facts that it exists and that its destructive power is fantastically great.” From this simple truth, the dictates of state regarding the nuclear option have been advanced through partial truths, useful fictions, and the occasional Big Whopper. …
Where Is North Korea's IRBM?
by | 2009-07-16 | 41 Comments
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan all should have a pretty good idea of what kind of missiles North Korea is shooting into the Sea of Japan at any given time, what with all the radars and imaging systems available to them and the information shared between the U.S. and each of its treaty allies. …
