N Korea carries out nuclear test with explosive yield of 6-7 kilotons

World ( 55 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Back to top

Order by Time Order by Popularity

55 Comments

Login to comment

  • 7

    kurisupisu

    Recently, it seems the dangers of nuclear technology are being made accutely apparent to those of us living in Asia....

  • 8

    zichi

    Unusual seismic activity in the region was detected that indicated a nuclear bomb and South Korea has told a United Nations Security Council diplomat that North Korea performed a nuclear test.

  • 1

    sidesmile

    The northerners certainly seem determined to rub folks the wrong way, eh.

  • 6

    noriyosan73

    Small dogs bark a lot, big dogs bark once.

  • -3

    YongYang

    With tests comes learning, knowledge and sophistication they won't need a missile. Just load a clumsy one onto a ship and sail it into a bay... The North Korean leadership are still in state of war with the both the US and South Korea --and thus their allies-- there's been a fifty year cease fire, is all. Be very sure that if shove comes to push North Korea will respond. China must, has to, step up and take North Korea into a place where she feels secure but can not threaten even actualize a nuclear war.

  • 4

    rickyvee

    so much for that sliver of hope that lil kim could create any meaningful change in the military.

  • 13

    Droll Quarry

    Maybe NK will wake up and realize that the days of getting rewarded for bad behavior are over. Just cut off all aid to them, does anyone really think those who need it are actually getting any of the aid sent there? It is just funneled off to the army.

  • 3

    Virtuoso

    China could easily dissuade its ally NK from its aggressive behavior. But why should it?

  • 3

    Surf O'Holic

    Other reports estimate the detonation at 10 kilotons. Expect a possible second and larger one in the coming days from what other sources are saying.

  • 4

    Wakarimasen

    We forget what a tense part of the world we live in

  • 2

    noriyosan73

    See it now! http://earthquaketrack.com/v/asia/recent Zoom in and keep the location in the center. Big booms, little food. How sad is that?

  • -4

    fivegogo2003@yahoo.com

    S. Korea really missed the boat on this one, Now it is much harder to unite their country when a rogue brother has weapon of mass destruction on their hands.

  • 2

    tokyo-star

    so much for that sliver of hope that lil kim could create any meaningful change in the military.

    I think little tubby doesn't have full reins of his country, and that things like this are mainly being decided by the guys in big hats.

  • 1

    tokyo-star

    TV is saying that the official NK News blower announced a successful test.

  • 2

    Graham DeShazo

    So are we going to do anything with or without China's help, or are we going to let the Hans Blix faction of the U.N. send another very solemnly-worded letter telling the latest Kim how disappointed in him they are?

    I was wondering if we could essentially buy China off, which is to say we offer to pay for the refuge camps on their side of the boarder, agree to respect their current borders, and promise that there will be no permanent posting of U.S. troops north of the DMZ in the event of hostilities or collapse of the reigeme - all American troops would be withdrawn South of the Current DMZ with in 60 days of the end of operations.

  • 1

    SushiSake3

    Lots of people jumpng to conclusions here.

    The last NK 'nuclear test' was reportedly triggered by a pile of TNT large enough to cause a seismic tremor.

    The key here is to ascertain whether there was any substantial release of radiation over the site. A US sniffer plane could determine that in one flight.

    Until we get some definite results, let's hold off the 'it was a nuclear test' claims.

  • 1

    Jason Stiles

    Negitive Ghostrider the teddy bear has rolled over, I repeat the teddy bear has rolled over. ugh there goes my upcoming weekend -_-

  • -1

    sailwind

    The key here is to ascertain whether there was any substantial release of radiation over the site. A US sniffer plane could determine that in one flight.

    Sushi,

    Aren't you always posting that the U.S should cut defense spending down to almost nothing? Yet now you find it extremely useful?

  • -2

    tokyo-star

    SushiSake3

    The last NK 'nuclear test' was reportedly triggered by a pile of TNT large enough to cause a seismic tremor.

    Sauce?

  • -1

    Droll Quarry

    NK's neighbors now need to step up and tighten the restrictions on NK. It is beyond me the mentality of the NK leadership that they would believe that they can bully their way to a more positive position in Asia. At some point the NK people will get hungry enough to start fighting back. The military spending is not sustainable without a source for NKs exports and I don't think China can absorb the excess if the rest of the world puts an embargo on NK products. If they develop a nuke and use it, that would be the end of NK and they know it. Why develop a weapon that you can't use or if you do use would result in retaliation that would remove the very political figures that are instigating the whole mess? Kind of like Saddam Hussein... if he had let the inspectors in, he would still be in power and sipping ice tea instead of pushing up daises in the old bone yard.

  • 3

    Saulo Akazawa

    Call in seal team 6!!!

  • -1

    SushiSake3

    Sail - "Aren't you always posting that the U.S should cut defense spending down to almost nothing? Yet now you find it extremely useful?"

    I've consistently said the US should cut at least 1 carrier group.

    Anyway, determining whether this was a nuke test is important to the US, too.

  • 1

    smithinjapan

    Droll Quarry: "Maybe NK will wake up and realize that the days of getting rewarded for bad behavior are over."

    They won't, so long as the aging military brass are there and more or less hold the reigns (or at least that's what's suspected), because they DO get rewarded in the end regardless. If you recall their successful rocket (not missile, as the J-media panicked about) and satellite launch, they got some sanctions slapped on them, only to have the US and other nations promising aid only two or three weeks ago if NK comes back to the table on the nuclear issue.

    "Just cut off all aid to them,"

    And what exactly do you think that will accomplish? They can still trade with other nations, and/or if not eventually they will simply have nothing left to lose -- which will lead to what, pres tel? Japan has reneged on promised aid countless times over a number of issues (mainly the abduction issue after Koizumi visited), and NK just calls it and any other nations or the UN's sanctions an 'act of war'.

    "...does anyone really think those who need it are actually getting any of the aid sent there?"

    I don't think anyone is being duped into thinking aid arrives for those who need it, and know that it goes to the military first and foremost, if not completely. That won't change by cutting the aid off.

    In short, there's no way around diplomacy with these fools in NK, and the longer it takes the more it's on their terms. China can't even reign them in any more, and that says a lot. It seems pretty clear this was a nuke test, especially given all the staff evacuating the test site earlier on -- a sign of imminent testing. The world will rightly rail against it, but I don't see what can be done that has not already been tried, short of attacking. That, however, would lead to much of South Korea and possibly Japan, with US interests there, being annihilated, and could in turn lead to a much larger conflict involving China.

  • 5

    zichi

    NK have also said, this year,it will test fire two long range missiles.

  • 2

    BertieWooster

    Threatened by nuclear terrorism, in the wake of the panic caused by the successful recent NK rocket firing and satellite launching, here is the dynamic way the Japanese rises to meet the danger and protect its people:

    Japan’s government said it would hold a top level security meeting in the afternoon.

    If that doesn't send a message to North Korea, nothing will.

    And, who knows, that may even be followed by an inter-departmental report.

    That'll learn 'em!

  • 4

    lostrune2

    Even China was embarrassed by this, after telling North Korea not to do it but did it anyways. China is kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place: if they don't scold NK, they continue to lose face as one that NK no longer kowtows to, despite sustaining NK's livelihood - but if they agree to new UN sanctions that have bite, that may have real bite such that NK would be destabilized and sending NK refugees over the river to China.

  • 0

    basroil

    fivegogo2003@yahoo.comFeb. 12, 2013 - 03:43PM JST

    Ha Ha, this whole scenario makes me laugh. U.S. was looking for WMD in Iraq and couldn't find it while it was in the wrong part of the world. What now?

    What does that have to do with this? It's ridiculous to even consider that to be on topic.

  • 0

    basroil

    kurisupisuFeb. 12, 2013 - 01:38PM JST

    Recently, it seems the dangers of nuclear technology are being made accutely apparent to those of us living in Asia....

    There have been no uses of nuclear bomb technology in this part of asia that have actually been proven in decades. The last ones to actually use them were the chinese, and russians before that

  • 1

    SamuraiBlue

    Surf O'Holic

    Expect a possible second and larger one in the coming days from what other sources are saying.

    I doubt it. Unless they have enough Uranium 235 already it is going to take them sometime to extract enough amount for another bomb. As for the learning curve there is not much with a Uranium type bomb. The Americans didn't test it since they didn't have enough Uranium 235 and also knew it will go off when detonated.

  • 3

    sighclops

    Meanwhile, the nation plunges further into poverty. Nice to see they've got their priorities in order!

  • 0

    basroil

    SamuraiBlueFeb. 12, 2013 - 04:32PM JST

    The Americans didn't test it since they didn't have enough Uranium 235 and also knew it will go off when detonated.

    They also expected it to be twice the explosion, a pool of the most brilliant minds of the time, so it's not simple math.

  • 2

    hkitagawa

    I wonder if they want to sell it to the terrorists or if they want to keep it for self defence or both.

  • 2

    SuperLib

    It will be interesting to see China's reaction.

  • 2

    Surf O'Holic

    Samuraiblue, Trouble is, what DPRK actually has isn't so clear.

    " North Korea has enough plutonium to build between four and eight nuclear weapons, according to Siegfried Hecker, a nuclear scientist who visited the country's main Yongbyon nuclear complex in 2010.

    Other reports suggest the country has enough fissile material for about a dozen plutonium warheads. In 2009, the regime said it would begin enriching uranium, giving it another means of building a nuclear arsenal.

    Speculation had been mounting that this third test could involve a uranium device – a clear signal that North Korea's scientists have mastered the ability to produce highly enriched uranium."

    From Guardian Uk.

  • 5

    SamuraiBlue

    basroil

    They also expected it to be twice the explosion, a pool of the most brilliant minds of the time, so it's not simple math.

    Auhh, 6-7 kiloton is approx. half of that of the bomb that was detonated over Hiroshima. Uranium gun barrel type bomb is fairly unsophisticated. You slam two peices of sub critical amount of Uranium 235 into one to become super critical amount and it will ignites by itself.

  • 2

    Cortes Elijah

    North Korea. Your time is near...enjoy your last years under that regime.

  • 1

    SamuraiBlue

    Surf O'Holic

    To my understanding NK had abandoned it's ambition on developing a Plutonium implosion type bomb which had not shown success the last two times. I also believe they had closed down their Plutonium enrichment facilities for food and had moved on to Uranium enrichment. As I have written Uranium enrichment takes time since seperating Uranium 238 and 235 is a tedious task requiring many centerifuge since they cannot be seperated chemically like plutonium.

  • 0

    basroil

    SamuraiBlueFeb. 12, 2013 - 05:44PM JST

    Auhh, 6-7 kiloton is approx. half of that of the bomb that was detonated over Hiroshima.

    And it's a quarter of what was expected by the guys that designed the hiroshima bomb, not half. Perhaps you failed to read the entirety of the post.

    You slam two peices of sub critical amount of Uranium 235 into one to become super critical amount and it will ignites by itself.

    Slamming them together is the easy part, keeping them from coming apart too soon is not. Nor is choosing the right shape for the ring and rod. Of course, if you just assume it's two hemispheres coming together you would think it's easy, but then all you would get is a big pop and a few years of wasted centrifuge time. It's funny how seeing the inside of a nuclear bomb (minus the "classified" parts in the core) lets you know just how much can go wrong and completely kill the yield.

  • 2

    SamuraiBlue

    basroil

    The Hiroshima type a-bomb detonated a yeild of 16 kilo tons.

    The design is on the internet. I drew a copy when I was in highschool. It's basically a Convex and a concave basin.

    The difficult part is how to compact the ultra fine uranium powder into a solid but can be simulated using mandane household items.

    The good part is that it is basically impossible to miniturize this device so it will be darn difficult for NK to tip a missile with it.

  • -6

    Serrano

    The North Koreans will not be cowed by the belligerent Americans and their South Korean lackeys.

  • 0

    jansob1

    SamuraiBlue, they don't actually have to miniaturize it. Just put one on a freighter, reflag it , sail it into a port and push the button. I seriously doubt the Japanese Coast Guard would catch it. And I'm really hoping some JCG members see this and start worrying.

  • 1

    SamuraiBlue

    jansob1

    It will easily be caught on the high seas releasing ganma ray radiation which will light up like a Christmas tree viewing it through a detactor.

  • -2

    YuriOtani

    Makes one wonder if their test is a simulated nuke?

  • 0

    jansob1

    I really, really hope they are doing that...but I can easily see the "Daijobu, daijobu" mentality taking over if they get strange readings from a ship whose flag makes them not want to check it.

  • 3

    SamuraiBlue

    jansob1

    First of all there is an embargo on NK so there are no merchant ships going in or out without a search by the 6 nations.

    Next no merchant ship will allow such a cargo in which it will be heavily shielded making it too heavy for a regular cargo lift to load it on and the weight will no doubt damage the cargo box below making it easy to spot.

    Third if it's not heavily shielded then it will be easy to spot from space with a spy satellite.

    Last it would be much easier using either bio or chemical weapons with the forementioned method which will be easier to conceal and harder to spot.

  • 2

    guuzendesu

    You go, Serrano!

    Great North Korea, you will stand forever as a gleaming monument to the way things should be! lol...

  • 0

    T-Mack

    @Virtuoso, Nuclear Fallout from weapons delivered from United States Navel ICBM Submarines???

  • 1

    T-Mack

    North Korea really believes they can be a contender in the Nuclear Arena. They don't have a compatable weapon, they continue to develope a Nuclear device, through testing. But before they can get that Ordinance on a Missle, and in flight to the USA, or any country they will first have to learn how to die well...Starvation? Nuclear Armed Drones? or just plain jane ICBM's.....NK has now moved up on the list, of the"Axsis of evil". The United States of America Loves War and are very good at it!!! Now their site's are on you NK, there are now more weapons aimed at you today than yesterday. The happy fun times you had are over, Obama has already stated there will be more to come, in feeding you hardship for your continued strong stubborn nature...

  • 0

    AkariYoshida

    As i have stated, the UN has not control over this situation and countries need to take immediate action. Stopping trade and cutting all ties with North Korea would greatly slow if not stop the missile launches done by North Korea. All countries need to stop their trade because if they don't a war will surly break out when North Korea builds up more of their confidence and strikes another country

  • 1

    YuriOtani

    Any use of atomic weapons on North Korea will be a bad thing for Japan. The upper air winds will bring any fallout to Nagano and then Tokyo. It will take about a day to arrive. Within a day unless in a shelter 100 percent of the population would receive a lethal dose of radiation.

  • 0

    Mark Bradley

    North Korea nuking any country would be a suicide wish because the response would be to retaliate in kind with not one, but a carpeting of nuclear missiles.

  • 1

    YuriOtani

    Mark if the Americans did that they will be killing millions of Japanese. The North Koreans can not do that in their dreams. The radiation will get into the ocean and find its way to Japan, then Alaska, Canada and then the west coast. So any American attack on North Korea will be a very bad thing.

  • 0

    T-Mack

    The first strike would not be of even a hint of Nuclear weapons, It would be, the GBU-43/B is large, powerful and accurately delivered. high explosive. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb [MOAB] weapon is a 21,000 lbs total weight GPS-guided munition with fins and inertial gyro for pitch and roll control. It is probable that this munition was initially nick-named the "Mother Of All Bombs" with the retronymic expansion of MOAB following later. North Korea will get a good close look at this Ordinace if they don't stop now...

  • -1

    falseflagsteve

    I get so fed up with mostly infantile Americans and their childish good guy vs bad guy thought processes. Seeming to revel in the military hardware that can maim and kill without and regard to the victims. North Korean government are nasty and treat the people like crap but only do these things because they know the only way to prevent a US invasion is to show they have the power to look after themselves. The US will not attack a nuclear armed nation and North Korea know that.

  • 1

    WilliB

    This means that Iran is a step closer to Allahs bomb. Anybody who thinks there is no cooperation between North Korea and Iran is fooling himself.

Back to top

Login to leave a comment

OR

More in World

View all

View all