I leave the US for one freakin´week, and this is what the rest of the world gets up to? Madness, I tell you!! Madness!!
Ok, here´s the quick and dirty for the North Korean nuke test. It is unlikely that they are testing devices intended for a small yield at this point, and are probably working on basic design validation. Given the speculation (and likelyhood) that this was a fizzle and the propensity of KJI to provoke in clusters, I expect that another detonation is quite possible. If nothing else, there will be a bit of lag time in the international community, so once this window of opportunity closes it will be a while before more tests can be conducted.
More broadly, as a signaling mechanism, particularly on Columbus Day and while Japanese PM Abe was in South Korea, this presents a number of possibilities. One is that North Korea needs to keep itself on the front burner if it is going to extract meaningful concessions. Of all the things that presents North Korea with a problem in negotiation, being ignored is way at the top of the list.
Past that, I don´t really care to speculate, as this particular crystal ball is quite murky indeed.
Kim’s overplayed his hand. This is starting to show all the earmarks of a situation that is heading out of control.
It pays to remember that Kim’s ‘concessions’ amount to the American taxpayer being blackmailed into paying for the very nuclear weapons with which he’s threatening us. No thanks.
One thing that definitely emerges is a galvanizing of our relationship with Japan and Australia. But we knew that would happen. Interesting times.
Very bad news.
I guess Bush and fellas are going to use the nuke test for gaining more votes from the scared people.
Thank you for sharing this story with me !
“At the time, conflict unceasing grew year by year to a more dangerous intensity at home, while abroad there gathered sullenly the hurricane that was to wreck our generation. Our days were spent in the furious party battles…, while always upon the horizon deadly shapes grew or faded, and even while the sun shone there was a curious whisper in the air.”
That’s Winston Churchill in the 1930s, writing about the years before the First World War.
I’m getting panicky; someone dash a pitcher of water in my face, please…
SI: I’m with you. The hurricane is definitely coming.
tw: England
That would explain this…
Holy crap!!!
And winston churchill too?!!!
Atoms for peace my ass…..
history doth repeat itself…again and again and again….. etc…..
And Iran is just jiggling with excitement…
Lock and load everyone, lock and load.