Avatar photoNorth Korea and Nuclear Forensics

I was at an event this morning where Michael Swaine raised the question of identifying North Korean uranium in the event that it were used in an attack by another state or terrorist organization. This subject has come up a fair amount lately, it seems. Yesterday, both David Ignatius and William Perry mentioned it in …

Avatar photoPowell on DPRK Test

Just for fun…back in the day, Powell described the likely US response to a North Korean nuclear test in a 2003 interview with Business Week : Q: And if the North Koreans test nuclear arms? A: If they test we’ll take note of their test. The only reason they are testing is to scare the …

Avatar photoA Second Test?

Well. Japan’s MFA is apparently saying that North Korea may have conducted a second test, according to AP. South Korea seems to say otherwise, though: …a South Korean official said seismic monitors did not detect any tremors that could indicate possible second North Korea nuclear test. Japan’s NHK TV is reporting the same thing, according …

Avatar photoSo, like, why didn't it work?

One possible explanation for a failed test is that the North Koreans attempted to skip directly to an operational weapons design (say 1000-2000 lbs like the US Mk 7). Indeed, this was precisely what was reported in the press in 2003 based on changes in the nature of North Korea’s implosion testing at Yongdok—something I …