Posted on 10/16/2006 12:52:28 PM PDT by HAL9000
More than likely an authorized leak to give the world a heads up right before the test to soften the blow of the shock. Pretty much identical to the leak right before the missiles tests.
You might want to see this.
KNUS News Talk Radio reported 20 minutes ago that North Korea has just detonated an underground nuclear device.
Are you sure they weren't talking about the official confirmation of the test last monday?
This was the first I have heard about the blast being underground. It sounded like a second test.
I'm checking all available sources, but cannot find any reports that a second test has occurred.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200610171005/rice_hopes_pyongyang_will_not_conduct_2nd_nuclear_test
Ok, thats Condi & Tony Snow coming out and saying they hope NK doesn't conduct a 2nd test within the space of hours, plus multiple sources telling NBC about activity and stating " the test could be conducted without warning".
I'm not sure exactly what you heard on the radio but theres nothing anywhere about a test already taken place....but it certainly looks imminent.
Depends on how well they plug the holes.
KNUS News Update - The original test was conducted underground. MY BAD! Can't find anything on AP or FoxNews about a second test.
It's a pretty major development cycle step to that, I'm sure he'd like one but you don't go from one test to or even 2 or 5 tests to H-bomb.
"John Pike, a leading expert on military affairs in the United States, said he believes the explosion was close to that of a small atomic bomb with limited power--the type normally used as a detonator for a hydrogen bomb."
.........
"Kim Myong-chol, director of the Center for Korean-American Peace, who is regarded as an unoffical spokesperson for Kim Jong-il has claimed in a radio interview that North Korea has an H-bomb and is ready to test it." - 10/16/2006 05:36 AM
Normally, I'd agree, but I'd wager he's got access to decent simulation software.
We'll see in a few days I guess.
I mistyped, ment to type fussion device.
Yep, I think that is exactly what he is doing. He has limited supplies of Plutonium and U235. As I understand it, extracting deuterium from seawater is fairly straight forward. He can build a large arsenal of H bombs with the plutonium he has on hand as initiators.
A lot of this is posturing and yappin on like a pissed off chihuahua (sorry to insult the chihuahua owners out there)!--but much if it is vey, vey series!
You could if you had a proven set of plans/drawings/schematics. Google "Former Soviet Union"
bump
Idiots in the MSM, and many politicians, would leap to the assumption of a fission device first (that's the way we did it).
As a technology industry denizen, what we tend to see in developing countries is leap frogging. We spend the billions and trillions developing it in the West. The Chinese steal it, adapt it, and then pop out on the spectrum with the version of the product you've got - about 18 development months behind yours.
This is consistent with that. Fission? Why do it? To expensive.
Hydrogen Bomb - More destructive and takes less fissionable material.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.