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N. Korea Nuke Test Showed Progress

By Jess Kilby,  Newser User

Posted Jun 16, 2009 8:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – North Korea appeared to make progress with its nuclear test last month, detonating a device that was significantly more powerful than its first test in 2006, CNN reports. US officials believe the May 26 explosion was in the 3 to 4 kiloton range, a considerable step up from the first half-kiloton blast, which was widely regarded as a failure. Officials believe North Korea may also be preparing for another test.

Tens of thousands of North Koreans rallied in Pyongyang on Monday to condemn the U.N. rebuke of the country's latest nuclear test amid concern the communist regime could conduct another one.
Tens of thousands of North Koreans rallied in Pyongyang on Monday to condemn the U.N. rebuke of the country's latest nuclear test amid concern the communist regime could conduct another one.   (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service)
A portrait of Kim Jong Il and what protesters say is his son Kim Jong Un are burned by protesters during a rally against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs in South Korea, June 15, 2009.
A portrait of Kim Jong Il and what protesters say is his son Kim Jong Un are burned by protesters during a rally against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs in South Korea, June 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US in 1945 each generated explosions of more than 15 kilotons of TNT.
The atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US in 1945 each generated explosions of more than 15 kilotons of TNT.   (AP Photo/U.S. Army via Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, HO)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
ChickenChopper
Jun 16, 2009 3:53 AM CDT
dont be all technical rob, its usually a joke with me, lol
Rob
Jun 16, 2009 1:52 AM CDT
An epic failure would be an unannounced and unnoticed non-atomic fizzle. I'm sure there were plenty of these over the years and we didn't know about them. Now, the djinn is out.
ChickenChopper
Jun 16, 2009 1:45 AM CDT
maybe one of these tests will fail on an epic scale...we can only hope (sort of)

 
North Korea • nuclear weapons • nuclear test

 
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