[BeauBo]

Doesn’t sound like an H-bomb.

The 5.1 magnitude quake indicates a yield of only around 45 kilotons - in the ballpark of their earlier tests.

It could have been a dud H-bomb - a fission trigger explosion that failed to produce the fusion explosion.

Or they might have been exaggerating their claim.

[Mariner]

"The 5.1 magnitude quake indicates a yield of only around 45 kilotons"

Our Pershing II missiles had a thermonuclear yield of 5-50KT. Selectable.

The Minuteman III ICBM carries 100KT warheads.

And, I don't think we have ever seen a 45KT fission weapon.

[PJ-Comix]

It could have been a dud H-bomb - a fission trigger explosion that failed to produce the fusion explosion.

I'm wondering if the NORK scientists told Dear Leader that it was a successful H-bomb even though it failed. I mean, how would he know if it was successful or not. They might have had to lie to save their hides.