# North Korea Nuclear Test? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 12, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108 "2004-09-12T04:09:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/1 "2004-09-12T04:09:44Z")
I didn’t know what forum to post this in - this isn’t mundane or pointless - and if a debate does start, it’ll likely be a flame war, so … I’m posting here. Because, if it’s true, then fuck! [http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20040912/320000000020040912120049E7.html](http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20040912/320000000020040912120049E7.html) > [@](#): > > A reliable source in Seoul’s diplomatic community says Sunday a mushroom cloud with a radius of 3.5 to 4 kilometers was spotted in Kimhyongjik County in North Korea’s northernmost inland province of Yanggang on Sept. 9. [http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040912/ap\_on\_re\_as/nkorea\_explosion\_3](http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040912/ap_on_re_as/nkorea_explosion_3) > [@](#): > > SEOUL, South Korea - A large explosion occurred in the northern part of North Korea (news - web sites) on an important anniversary of the communist regime, South Korea (news - web sites)'s Yonhap news agency reported Sunday. > > Citing an unidentified source in Beijing, Yonhap said the explosion happened on Thursday in Yanggang province near the border with China. The damage and crater left by the explosion in Kim Hyong Jik county was big enough to be noticed by a satellite, the source said. > > North Korea was founded on Sept. 9, 1948. Leader Kim Jong Il uses the occasion to stage performances and other events to bolster loyalty among the impoverished North Korean population. > > Experts have speculated that North Korea might use a major anniversary to conduct a nuclear-related test, though there was no immediate indication that the reported explosion on Thursday was linked to Pyongyang’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons. > > On April 22, train wagons at a railway station exploded in the North Korean town of Ryongchon, killing 160 people and injuring an estimated 1,300, according to some estimates. The blast was believed to have been sparked by a train laden with oil and chemicals that hit power lines. > > The source that told Yonhap about the explosion last week said it was reportedly bigger than the train explosion in Ryongchon. Not cool. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/2 "2004-09-12T04:18:03Z")
It doesn’t look good. My question is academic; where do they have room in North Korean for a nuclear test without at the very least giving cancer to several thousand people? ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/3 "2004-09-12T04:18:48Z")
Our president has aspirations of developing a noo-kew-ler weapon for blowing up bunkers. We still maintain the largest nuclear stockpile in the world. We have more nuclear materials, including fissile material, than any country on earth. Why is it “cool” for us, but “not cool” for North Korea? Goose, meet gander. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/4 "2004-09-12T04:21:10Z")
That´s just swell, isn´t it? I´d wait for comfirmation though; sooner or later the fallout (if there´s any) should reach China or the sea, depending on the winds. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/5 "2004-09-12T04:22:09Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > Why is it “cool” for us, but “not cool” for North Korea? Nuclear weapons aren’t cool, but North Korean sells munitions to really nasty people. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/6 "2004-09-12T04:22:49Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > Our president has aspirations of developing a noo-kew-ler weapon for blowing up bunkers. We still maintain the largest nuclear stockpile in the world. We have more nuclear materials, including fissile material, than any country on earth. > > Why is it “cool” for us, but “not cool” for North Korea? > > Goose, meet gander. > > Sam Hmmm, because Little Kim is a Triple A Certified fruitcake? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/7 "2004-09-12T04:30:54Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > Hmmm, because Little Kim is a Triple A Certified fruitcake? :dubious: Millions claim this about Bush too, but we nuclear weapons. Unless they are a _direct_ threat to us, they should be able to have nuclear weapons too. ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/8 "2004-09-12T04:31:22Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > Our president has aspirations of developing a noo-kew-ler weapon for blowing up bunkers. We still maintain the largest nuclear stockpile in the world. We have more nuclear materials, including fissile material, than any country on earth. > > Why is it “cool” for us, but “not cool” for North Korea? > > Goose, meet gander. > > Sam What makes you think I think it’s cool that we have nuclear weapons? ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/9 "2004-09-12T04:31:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Nuclear weapons aren’t cool, but North Korean sells munitions to really nasty people. I hate to point this out, but we have and continue to do the same thing. Kim is a fruitcake, but so is our figurehead. I don’t like Kim having Nukes, but I don’t like anyone having them. I don’t like us having them and I don’t like having a president who opened up his first term with a bunker buster plan. I’m just pointing out the two-facedness of the idea of another country having nukes as a bad thing, and us controlling the largest stockpile as an OK thing. Don’t mind me. Sam ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/10 "2004-09-12T04:33:32Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > I’m just pointing out the two-facedness of the idea of another country having nukes as a bad thing, and us controlling the largest stockpile as an OK thing. Don’t mind me. > > Sam Again, you’d have to know my position before you can declare me two-faced. Go take your assumptions elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/11 "2004-09-12T04:35:34Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > I hate to point this out, but we have and continue to do the same thing. Actually, I don’t believe we sell them to folks in the Mid East. I’m not happy with Bush having the football, but MAD worked with the Soviets, Dr. Strangelove not withstanding. Is my grammar correct on that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/12 "2004-09-12T04:35:55Z")
> [@cmason32](#): > > What makes you think I think it’s cool that we have nuclear weapons? I apologize if I’ve lumped you into a group of people who DO feel it’s ok for us to have all the nukes we do, while demonizing the myriad little shit countries who are developing teeny tiny little stockpiles with no way to attack countries more than a few hundred miles away from them(A la India, Pakistan, N. Korea, Etc.). I hear the argument against N. Korea having nukes and why it’s so important for us to stop them from developing them all the time, and most people I argue with about this think it IS ok for us to have our own little stash. Once again, my apologies, but someone had to ask the question of why it’s bad for them and ok for us, don’t you think? Sam ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/13 "2004-09-12T04:38:56Z")
> [@cmason32](#): > > Again, you’d have to know my position before you can declare me two-faced. Go take your assumptions elsewhere. Hey there, don’t go taking things all personal now. I just apologized for my assumption, dickwad, and explained why I made it. Also, I must point out that pointing out the two-facedness of someone’s argument is MUCH different than calling someone two-faced in an Ad-hominem attack. One can hold an unfair or two-faced opinion without being the same. I’d recommend taking your hackles down a notch if you wish to debate politics with someone. Sam ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/14 "2004-09-12T04:40:18Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Actually, I don’t believe we sell them to folks in the Mid East. > I’m not happy with Bush having the football, but MAD worked with the Soviets, Dr. Strangelove not withstanding. > > Is my grammar correct on that? > 🙂 I’d say it’s time for some history lessons before you can claim that we don’t and haven’t sold weapons to “nasty” people. Sam ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/15 "2004-09-12T04:40:47Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > I apologize if I’ve lumped you into a group of people who DO feel it’s ok for us to have all the nukes we do, while demonizing the myriad little shit countries who are developing teeny tiny little stockpiles with no way to attack countries more than a few hundred miles away from them(A la India, Pakistan, N. Korea, Etc.). I hear the argument against N. Korea having nukes and why it’s so important for us to stop them from developing them all the time, and most people I argue with about this think it IS ok for us to have our own little stash. > > Once again, my apologies, but someone had to ask the question of why it’s bad for them and ok for us, don’t you think? > > Sam Apology accepted. Notwithstanding my belief that no country should have nuclear weapons, I accept the fact that getting rid of them is not realistic. And, I also understand people who argue that they may be a necessary evil. However, that doesn’t mean I wish to see crazy despots acquire them, either. But, if I had my way, no one would have them. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/16 "2004-09-12T04:40:52Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > while demonizing the myriad little shit countries… Heheheh. My Ironymeter is beeping like mad! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/17 "2004-09-12T04:42:00Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > I’d say it’s time for some history lessons before you can claim that we don’t and haven’t sold weapons to “nasty” people. > > Sam Perhaps I’m mistaken. Who did we sell nukes to? ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/18 "2004-09-12T04:42:02Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > Hey there, don’t go taking things all personal now. I just apologized for my assumption, dickwad, and explained why I made it. Also, I must point out that pointing out the two-facedness of someone’s argument is MUCH different than calling someone two-faced in an Ad-hominem attack. One can hold an unfair or two-faced opinion without being the same. > > I’d recommend taking your hackles down a notch if you wish to debate politics with someone. > > Sam Since I’ve already accepted your earlier apology, I think we can let this part of the debate die, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/19 "2004-09-12T04:44:10Z")
I think I speak for all of us, Sam, when I say we’re getting worried about these mood swings. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108/20 "2004-09-12T04:45:32Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Perhaps I’m mistaken. Who did we sell nukes to? Perhaps I’m mistaken. Who did N. Korea sell nukes to? You said “weapons”, Not “nukes”, and since N. Korea hasn’t had a weapons program in place long enough to have developed and begun selling them to other “nasty” people, and to my knowledge this accusation has not been levelled against them, your argument is moot. Sam [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-nuclear-test/264108.md?page=2)