North Korea ‘May Stage Multiple Nuclear Tests’

[Purveyor]

By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, February 5, 2013 6:56 EST

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak believes North Korea could detonate multiple devices when it goes ahead with a nuclear test expected in the coming weeks or even days.

--CLIP
The North has signalled that it will carry out a “higher level” nuclear test very soon, in a defiant response to UN sanctions imposed after its successful long-range rocket launch in December.

Lee said “higher-level” suggested Pyongyang might attempt to detonate several devices.

“North Korea is likely to carry out multiple nuclear tests at two places or more simultaneously” in order to maximise scientific gains from an event that will be globally condemned, Lee said.

--CLIP
Of particular interest will be any sign that its scientists have succeeded in developing a warhead that can be fitted onto a missile.

MORE...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/05/north-korea-may-stage-multiple-nuclear-tests/

[longship]

1. Hope they fizzle!

I hope that NK still hasn't solved all the problems. They aren't exactly easy, or obvious.

And they cannot hide their failures.

[Purveyor]

2. That may be why they might 'touch off' more than one. Hoping that at least one of them might

work and then claim success.

[longship]

3. If they don't yet have it right, that won't make much of a difference.

The run away chain reaction needs a very precise interaction of a couple of neutrons of proper energy profile. They (almost) never happen by accident. So if NK hasn't solved that problem they could set off many of them and they would all fizzle.

I don't have high confidence that they've solved the problem. It isn't easy. We may soon see.

I sincerely hope I am correct.