Estimates of size, type of North Korea's nuclear test vary

Washington (Platts)--9Oct2006

North Korea's underground explosion produced hugely varying estimates of its
character and size. North Korea said the explosion was nuclear, but only the
Russian government's defense minister immediately agreed, saying the blast
equated to 5,000-15,000 kilotons of TNT. Officials elsewhere demurred on
whether the explosion was nuclear, conventional, or a nuclear fizzle. The
University of Helsinki's Sysmae station said it measured the blast at 4.2 on
the Richter Scale, which calculated back to 2 kilotons. The Korea Center for
Earthquake Research and the Korea Institute for Geoscience & Mineral Resources
estimated the yield at 0.5-0.8 kilotons. Detailed analyses of global seismic
and atmospheric data are needed to settle the issue. Whatever its size, the
test claimed one immediate victim: South Korea's "sunshine" policy. President
Roh Moo Hyun announced the attempt to open communication between the two
Koreas had not worked and would change. Roh and new Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe, in their first meeting, dropped plans to discuss historic
grievances and united in condemning the test. China, North Korea's main ally,
joined the rest of the UN Security Council in condemning it. Iran, itself
suspected of developing clandestine nuclear weapons, defended North Korea,
saying it was responding to US aggression and "humiliation."

 

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