Posted on 05/24/2009 11:19:39 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
N. Korea couples nuclear blast with missile launch: source
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, May 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to have test-fired a short-range missile Monday on its east coast after it conducted its second nuclear test, a South Korean source said.
The missile, with an estimated range of 130 kilometers, was fired from the coastal site where North Korea launched its long-range rocket on April 5, the source said.
The latest launch comes as tension peaks on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea claimed it succeeded in detonating a more powerful nuclear device in its northeastern region.
"The U.S. and South Korean authorities are working together to assess the missile launch," the source said.
North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in October 2006.
Since the two that they have detonated (Oct 9, 2006 and this one) are different, my guess is that they do not have ready made bombs in storage, they are still under development. Thus they probably have plutonium for less than 10 devices, but they have to assemble them as well.
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=16912
OH BOY here we go folks
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