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 …
Dropping the F-Bomb on the NORKS
by | 2006-10-09 | 31 Comments
Well, the French are the first to drop the F-bomb on North Korea—failure. Speaking to reporters, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie (right) said “it was an explosion with a force of about half a kiloton, which is not an extremely powerful explosion, or it shows that there could have been a failure.” AP’s Katherine Schrader …
NORK DATA: It was a DUD
by | 2006-10-09 | 33 Comments
HA HA HA HA. I love the US Geological Survey. They’ve published lat/long (41.294°N, 129.134°E) and Mb estimates (4.2) for the North Korean test. There is lots of data floating around: The CTBTO called it 4.0; The South Koreans report 3.58-3.7. You’re thinking, 3.6, 4.2, in that neighborhood. Seismic scales, like the Richter, are logarithmic, …
More Norky Goodness
by | 2006-10-09 | 4 Comments
For those of you taking a break from your glue binge, some additional items: 1. Here’s the text of North Korea’s statement on the nuclear tests: The field of scientific research in the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, Juche 95 [2006] at …
