Gertz: U.S. doubts Korean test was nuclear

The Drudge Report ^ | October 9, 2006 | Drudge

[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...

[defenderSD]

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.

[TheLion]

"That train explosion in Ryonchon in '04 measured 3.6."

May have been where they got the idea.

[TOneocon]

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.

[defenderSD]

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.

[defenderSD]

"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.

[TheLion]

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

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

...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."

[RobFromGa]

Thanks for moving this one to breaking.

[thoughtomator]

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

[Anti-Bubba182]

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.."

[Solamente]

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

[Southack]

"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.

[doc1019]

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.

[SmithL]

The Film Actor's Guild is deeply disturbed

[Wil H]

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

[cowtowney]

Nucrear Exprosion? Reary?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

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

[nwctwx]

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.

[stultorum]

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

[JasonC]

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.