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Gertz: U.S. doubts Korean test was nuclear
The Drudge Report ^ | October 9, 2006 | Drudge

Posted on 10/09/2006 7:52:09 PM PDT by blogblogginaway

GERTZ: U.S. doubts Korean test was nuclear; Readings fall short of atomic explosion... MORE...

U.S. intelligence agencies say, based on preliminary indications, that North Korea did not produce its first nuclear blast yesterday, WASHINGTON TIMES star reporter Bill Gertz is set to report in Tuesday editions.

U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that seismic readings show that the conventional high explosives used to create a chain reaction in a plutonium-based device went off, but that the blast's readings were shy of a typical nuclear detonation.

'There was a seismic event that registered about 4 on the Richter scale, but it still isn't clear if it was a nuclear test. You can get that kind of seismic reading from high explosives.'

The underground explosion, which Pyongyang dubbed a historic nuclear test, is thought to have been the equivalent of several hundred tons of TNT, far short of the several thousand tons of TNT, or kilotons, that are signs of a nuclear blast, the official said. Developing...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: nk; nkorea; northkorea; nucleartest; nuketest; unclearbomb
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To: TASMANIANRED

My understanding is that it takes a very high level of technical capability to reprocess plutonium from a reactor into weapons-grade plutonium. Few nations have that level of scientific capability and in North Korea's run-down and currently cash depleted condition, NK may not be able to build plutonium bombs. Let's hope not.


21 posted on 10/09/2006 8:09:19 PM PDT by defenderSD (CO2 is not a pollutant and I am not a polluter when I breathe....you hear that Algore?)
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To: idkfa
"That train explosion in Ryonchon in '04 measured 3.6."

May have been where they got the idea.

22 posted on 10/09/2006 8:10:26 PM PDT by TheLion
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To: blogblogginaway

I read the equivalent of 500 tons of TNT was used.
Trying to impress the world of their new found explosive power has but resulted in a humiliating dud. Its' possible NK had the blast to impress the Iranian scientists present that a nuke blast did occur in the hopes Iran would fall for it and result in Iran percurment of the technology.
I, myself, a'm doubting the nuke blast occurred.


23 posted on 10/09/2006 8:11:49 PM PDT by TOneocon
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To: TheLion

They may have also got the idea from one of those old movies that Kim likes to watch. You know, the ones where guys blast open underground bank vaults.


24 posted on 10/09/2006 8:12:26 PM PDT by defenderSD (CO2 is not a pollutant and I am not a polluter when I breathe....you hear that Algore?)
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To: digger48
"The Beast had a few words to screech today, herself. (and I use the term "herself" quite sparingly)."

While we're on the subject of abrasive New York senators, it's funny but I haven't heard Chucky Schumer expounding lately on the need to do "trust-busting" of oil companies. Looks like those oil companies are more productive and less aggressive about pricing than he said they were.

25 posted on 10/09/2006 8:17:29 PM PDT by defenderSD (CO2 is not a pollutant and I am not a polluter when I breathe....you hear that Algore?)
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To: defenderSD

He is going to look like a real jerk, if it is proved that this was a fake....not that he isn't allready.


26 posted on 10/09/2006 8:20:25 PM PDT by TheLion
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To: Strategerist
...if simply the high explosive trigger goes off, you do NOT get an M 4 range earthquake.

I agree. So obviously, they faked it.

"Was it as good for you as it was for me darling? I mean...baby...the Earth...MOVED."

27 posted on 10/09/2006 8:23:41 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (I can't complain...but sometimes I still do.)
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To: blogblogginaway; Admin Moderator

Thanks for moving this one to breaking.


28 posted on 10/09/2006 8:28:38 PM PDT by RobFromGa (Monthly donors rock!)
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To: bandleader

It's a "fake but accurate" nuclear test ;)


29 posted on 10/09/2006 8:30:23 PM PDT by thoughtomator (Islam delenda est)
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To: blogblogginaway
It is possible to make a lower yield device.

Davy Crockett (nuclear device)

"..The M-388 round used a version of the W54 warhead, a very small sub-kiloton fission device. The Mk-54 weighed about 51 lb (23 kg), with a selectable yield of 10 or 20 tons (very close to the minimum practical size and yield for a fission warhead). The complete round weighed 76 lb (34.5 kg). It was 31 in. (78.7 cm) long with a diameter of 11 in. (28 cm) at its widest point; a subcaliber piston at the back of the shell was actually inserted into the launcher's barrel for firing.."


30 posted on 10/09/2006 8:31:39 PM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
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To: blogblogginaway

Maybe Rove suggested the blast be downplayed, so that Kim will test all his nukes underground and run out!


31 posted on 10/09/2006 8:32:04 PM PDT by Solamente (Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out...)
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To: MrNationalist
"I wonder if this gave them the idea of using explosives to appear like a Nuclear test. Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3655613.stm"

Beside that train explosion in April of 2004, NK had an "ammo dump" blow up around September 11, 2004 fairly close to the recent seismic event.

32 posted on 10/09/2006 8:33:15 PM PDT by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: TheLion

Unfortunately the oppressed folks in his country will not know. They will still worship him as an omnipotent god and continue to starve to death.


33 posted on 10/09/2006 8:33:31 PM PDT by doc1019
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To: blogblogginaway

The Film Actor's Guild is deeply disturbed


34 posted on 10/09/2006 8:34:37 PM PDT by SmithL (Where are we going? . . . . And why are we in this handbasket????)
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To: blogblogginaway

It depends upon what the meaning of "nuclear" is......


35 posted on 10/09/2006 8:36:05 PM PDT by Wil H
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To: blogblogginaway

Nucrear Exprosion? Reary?


36 posted on 10/09/2006 8:39:41 PM PDT by cowtowney
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To: blogblogginaway

Oh, OK. We do not need any response now. Nighty nite.
Is the sarcasm tag needed?


37 posted on 10/09/2006 8:39:43 PM PDT by ARealMothersSonForever (We shall never forget the atrocities of September 11, 2001.)
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To: blogblogginaway
I'd be a little cautious:

-past underground tests have appeared smaller on seismograph readings than they actually were.

-the russians should not be looked at as an entirely non-credible source... they know a lot about underground testing and its results.

-if it was a failure, we are still likely to see further attempts.

-worst option could be that they have a small yield weapon that could fit on a missile in their inventory.

They have been pumping money into this for years... it's not as hard to accomplish as it was when we did it. It's highly likely that if this failed, they will still succeed if not forceably stopped.
38 posted on 10/09/2006 8:40:14 PM PDT by nwctwx (Everything I need to know, I learned on the Threat Matrix)
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To: proxy_user

Is it nu-clear or is it un-clear?


39 posted on 10/09/2006 8:41:23 PM PDT by stultorum (dont hire illegal aliens)
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To: digger48
But the Russians said it was 5-15 kt. So what did they know and when did they know it? They knew the design yield, rather than the actual squib performance. Ergo they didn't get the estimate from a seismograph. They got it the old fashioned way - their plausible-denial nuke-the-Yankees flunkies told them.
40 posted on 10/09/2006 8:42:05 PM PDT by JasonC
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