As always when the DPRK tests, I’m in a seminar somewhere else. This time, I was discussing FMCT verification with the good people of SIPRI and the diplomats of the Conference on Disarmament. The plot is based on the Mb to yield estimates for dry-rock, close coupled, underground nuclear explosions. I’ve used the USGS estimate …
North Korea’s Design Choices
by | 2009-05-25 | 37 Comments
The DPRK apparently told China before its 2006 test that they were aiming for a yield of about 4 KT but they only acheived a yield around ½ KT. This implies that there was a significant problem with that design. ( Their announcement of this test seems to indicate that they are acknowledging that.) If …
North Korean Nuclear Test Mb
by | 2009-05-25 | 2 Comments
Ack, there is a reason I have a rule about blogging before a cup of coffee. In an earlier post, I made a math mistake (actually several, including a data entry error in a spread sheet). Anyway, here is the data on the North Korean nuclear test, with very simple yield estimates. The US Geological …
NORK Test Still Small (Not)
by | 2009-05-25 | 4 Comments
Sorry, I hit “live” accidentally before I finished proof-reading. This one looks big(ger).
