North Korea's Nuclear Test

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061009/ap_on_re_as/koreas_nuclear

Yikes, if it's true, there's going to be hell in the next year or so

Yes. Somehow it astounds me that we don't know if a nuke has exploded or not.

It was more likely than not a Dirty Bomb, not a real Nuke, and exploded Underground, this only happened an hour or so ago, look at the time for the News Report, like 12 minutes

Originally posted by Darth Kreiger
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061009/ap_on_re_as/koreas_nuclear

Yikes, if it's true, there's going to be hell in the next year or so

Why will there be?

Think about it for a second, yes it's a bit disconcerting that North Korea tested a device, but that's all they did. Both American and South Korean officials have said that they don't believe North Korea did this with any intent to start an escalation or any military reaction, and why would they? It's more or less them on their own.

It's in nobody's interest to have any nuclear conflict, and trustworthy or not, North Korean defense officials have said that they would never be the first to use nukes.

I admit, it's a bit dodgy, but I wouldn't start worrying yet. They've not weaponised it etc. Japan are the only ones going a bit mental, but their new leader has said he doesn't want a nuclear Japan, so there's no reason for them to do it. An arms race is the worst that could happen, and even then it's not suggesting war in any way.

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Why will there be?

Think about it for a second, yes it's a bit disconcerting that North Korea tested a device, but that's all they did. Both American and South Korean officials have said that they don't believe North Korea did this with any intent to start an escalation or any military reaction, and why would they? It's more or less them on their own.

It's in nobody's interest to have any nuclear conflict, and trustworthy or not, North Korean defense officials have said that they would never be the first to use nukes.

I admit, it's a bit dodgy, but I wouldn't start worrying yet. They've not weaponised it etc. Japan are the only ones going a bit mental, but their new leader has said he doesn't want a nuclear Japan, so there's no reason for them to do it. An arms race is the worst that could happen, and even then it's not suggesting war in any way.

-AC

Perhaps, but if NK sells Nukes, *cough* Iran, Terrorists *cough*, then there's a big problem. They will also try and bully the other Nations, which could bring war

War is on the horizon......

They don't even have nukes, they tested a bomb. It's not weaponised, they didn't test multiple weapons, they tested a single one. So first of all, they don't even have any to sell.

There won't be any militant response from the US or whatever, it'll be argued over in the diplomatic arena.

As of right now, there's no reason to worry. There may be in future, but in future there may be many other things to worry about, or there may not. If it escalates, then worry, but not right now. This is precisely how administrations try to make people afraid, there's really no reason to be right now.

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
They don't even have nukes, they tested a bomb. It's not weaponised, they didn't test multiple weapons, they tested a single one. So first of all, they don't even have any to sell.

There won't be any militant response from the US or whatever, it'll be argued over in the diplomatic arena.

As of right now, there's no reason to worry. There may be in future, but in future there may be many other things to worry about, or there may not. If it escalates, then worry, but not right now. This is precisely how administrations try to make people afraid, there's really no reason to be right now.

-AC

They apparently have the material to make 6 bombs, though I doubt they'll get the chance to make another, still frightening that they did it

It's official: North Korea admitted they tested a nuclear bomb.

Um...do we believe them?

No.

Originally posted by Darth Kreiger
Perhaps, but if NK sells Nukes, *cough* Iran, Terrorists *cough*, then there's a big problem. They will also try and bully the other Nations, which could bring war

And maybe the sky will fall on your head tomorrow...

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
It's official: North Korea admitted they tested a nuclear bomb.

So? Its of no concern to anyone else, other countries can bitch about it as long as they want, but they dont govern NK.

[continued...stupid 15min edit timelimit disgust]
They havent broken any laws, havent started any wars, havent killed anyone, I dont see what the mass media fuss is all about. Just cause people dislike the idea, doesnt mean they cant do it.

It's not mushroom clouds they have in their sites, it's dollar signs.

It was not a dirty bomb, dirty bombs don't actually produce a fission or fusion reaction, they just spread radioactive material.

Most likely it was a successful nuclear test.

This however, is a far cry from an actual threat. anyone can set off a nuclear detonation in a controlled environment. North Korea is more than likely incapable of A. Storing nuclear warheads B. reliably delivering nuclear payload. C. Building a reliable altitude based detonator.

hell, the only nations with the current technology to fullfill those three criteria are the US and Israel. Not even the USSR perfected proper nuclear storage or detonation capabilities.
Is it possible for them to launch a successful nuclear attack?
yes
Is it likely?
not by a long shot.
how long will it take them to develope functional weaponry?
considering that china's been nuclear for at least 40 years and still has an very unreliable arsenal, probably 50 years.

Best strategy?
sit back, relax, and whatch kim jung il starve and bankrupt his own people until they do to him what the Italians did to mussollini cause that'll cost several trillions of dollars.

Even if they have hundreds of weaponised nukes I just can't take North Korea seriously after seeing Team America: World Police.

It's just that word; Nuclear. As soon as it's used, people panic.

-AC

its NOOKYL'R

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
It's just that word; Nuclear. As soon as it's used, people panic.

-AC

Indeed - the only evidence of escalation I have seen is in certain people thinking this is somehow the worst thing that could happen and somehow signals a direct assult on the US and its allies (metaphorically which will in their minds lead to a physical one.)

After all - escalation is a two sided afair. It isn't escalation if N.K. simply tests a nuke. It is escalation if the rest of the world allows themselves to be goaded into rash hot headed reaction.

I really don't see the point of panic or fanatical cries of "N. Korea has proved they are a threat to the world. Bush should have taken them out instead of Iraq." (not on this forum yet, but on others) when it really shows how far away N.K. is from actually being in any posistion to use offensivly (though why they would is beyond me - theyN.K. government might be a lot of things but they aren't stupid.)

They apparently have the material to make 6 bombs, though I doubt they'll get the chance to make another, still frightening that they did it

Why won't they get the chance to make another?

Originally posted by Darth Kreiger
Perhaps, but if NK sells Nukes, *cough* Iran, Terrorists *cough*, then there's a big problem. They will also try and bully the other Nations, which could bring war

It's not even in Iran's best interest to nuke the west, they want to control our countries and convert them into Muslim territories. That can't be done if the land is inhospitable.