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So Kim's nuclear test site collapsed, likely destroying years of work, necessary equipment and possibly hit trained human personnel, so he suddenly went on a "t

by bitL 9y ago

So Kim's nuclear test site collapsed, likely destroying years of work, necessary equipment and possibly hit trained human personnel, so he suddenly went on a "tour for peace". Can't say I am unhappy.

nsnick 9y ago
That's not how underground nuclear testing works. The bombs are not developed or stored inside the mountain where they test. There would have been no one inside the mountain during the test. The mountain collapsed during the test. Kim probably thinks that his bombs are powerful enough and reliable enough for him to have a strong negotiating position.
- bitL 9y ago
  Unless the blast was much stronger and hit distant equipment never meant to be affected which is difficult to replace. Of course the bombs aren't developer/stored at a test site, but without proper test site they still might not be entirely usable in an ICBM or in a submarine, and too large to fit into a bomber to pose any non-local threat.
jmartrican 9y ago
Is this a known fact or hypothesis?
- T-A 9y ago
  As close to known fact as you can get without inspecting the site in person. It started with warnings from Chinese geologists last fall [1], was followed by unofficial news of a partial collapse which left 200 tunnel workers dead [2][3], and then by papers by two different groups concluding that the site has collapsed [4]. [1] http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2117340/chinese-scientists-warn-north-korea-about-disaster-threat-nuclear http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2117340/chine... [2] https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/873443/north-korea-nuclear-accident-Punggye-ri-tunnel-collapse-kim-jong-un https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/873443/north-korea-nucl... [3] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-01/about-200-died-at-north-korea-nuclear-site-tv-asahi-reports https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-01/about-200... [4] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43894394 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43894394

by bitL 9y ago

So Kim's nuclear test site collapsed, likely destroying years of work, necessary equipment and possibly hit trained human personnel, so he suddenly went on a "tour for peace". Can't say I am unhappy.

nsnick 9y ago

That's not how underground nuclear testing works. The bombs are not developed or stored inside the mountain where they test. There would have been no one inside the mountain during the test. The mountain collapsed during the test. Kim probably thinks that his bombs are powerful enough and reliable enough for him to have a strong negotiating position.

bitL 9y ago
Unless the blast was much stronger and hit distant equipment never meant to be affected which is difficult to replace. Of course the bombs aren't developer/stored at a test site, but without proper test site they still might not be entirely usable in an ICBM or in a submarine, and too large to fit into a bomber to pose any non-local threat.

jmartrican 9y ago

Is this a known fact or hypothesis?

T-A 9y ago
As close to known fact as you can get without inspecting the site in person. It started with warnings from Chinese geologists last fall [1], was followed by unofficial news of a partial collapse which left 200 tunnel workers dead [2][3], and then by papers by two different groups concluding that the site has collapsed [4]. [1] http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2117340/chinese-scientists-warn-north-korea-about-disaster-threat-nuclear http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2117340/chine... [2] https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/873443/north-korea-nuclear-accident-Punggye-ri-tunnel-collapse-kim-jong-un https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/873443/north-korea-nucl... [3] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-01/about-200-died-at-north-korea-nuclear-site-tv-asahi-reports https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-01/about-200... [4] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43894394 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43894394