North Korean blast smaller than thought
The yield is about four kilotonnes equivalent of TNT, with an uncertainty range from three to eight kilotonnes," Martin Kalinowski, a professor at the Carl Friedrich von Weizsacker Centre for Science and Peace Research (ZNF), at the University of Hamburg, told AFP. Full Story »
Posted by Glenn LaBauve
The lower yield in no lessen the impact of this test. While a larger yield would have shown a better mastery of the art of atomic weaponry, it was none the less an implosion type weapon most likely which is step one of a thermonuclear weapon. It is likely they are haveing enhancement problems at this time and we can expect several more tests until they correct the problem. We should not forget the Indian ocean test in the 1970s where no nation claimed resonsibility. As long as NK stays with underground testing, we will have ways to verify what is happening. I'm sure the air smpling is going on even as we read this, that will tell us more about how far they have progressed