# North Korea Readying a Nuke? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 7, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-readying-a-nuke/302768 "2005-05-07T00:57:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-readying-a-nuke/302768/1 "2005-05-07T00:57:48Z")
[Or have the US intelligence agencies got it wrong again?](http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/06/nkorea.nuke/index.html) > [@](#): > > The U.S. intelligence community is monitoring what appears to be preparations by North Korea to conduct a nuclear test, a Defense Department official told CNN Friday. But the official strongly emphasized that it is unclear whether the activity is real or deceptive. > > The official said there are indications of North Korea “digging holes and then filling them up with dirt” and that such activity is suggestive of underground test preparations. > > But he added, “The North Koreans are letting the U.S. see what they want us to see.” Of course, if they actually _do_ set off a nuke, then what? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-readying-a-nuke/302768/2 "2005-05-07T01:41:17Z")
They’re been discussing this for a week or so, since N Korea sent a missile into the Sea of Japan. We’ve got too much on our plate now, so unless Kim Jong Il starts lobbing nasties at us, I vote to let it be. ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-readying-a-nuke/302768/3 "2005-05-07T01:43:44Z")
Well since they are on record as saying it’s either real or it is not I’d say intelligence has pretty much nailed this one. Gotta hand it to Dear Leader, his inscrutability is his best weapon. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-readying-a-nuke/302768/4 "2005-05-07T01:59:32Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > They’re been discussing this for a week or so, since N Korea sent a missile into the Sea of Japan. > > We’ve got too much on our plate now, so unless Kim Jong Il starts lobbing nasties at us, I vote to let it be. Yeah, then after they lob one, we can wring our hands and ask why nobody stopped it. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-readying-a-nuke/302768/5 "2005-05-07T02:15:18Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > [Or have the US intelligence agencies got it wrong again?](http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/06/nkorea.nuke/index.html)Of course, if they actually _do_ set off a nuke, then what? If it’s a surface explosion, the fallout will quite probably drift over Japan, possibly over Tokyo itself. The resulting panic will likely kill many, followed by X number of fallout deaths, where X\>0. Japanese real estate values drop. Serious global financial panic shall follow.