Massive explosion reported in North Korea

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/a...rea_explosion_5

 

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, a South Korean news agency reported Sunday.

 

The Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified source in Beijing, said the explosion happened Thursday in Yanggang province near the border with China. The explosion in Kim Hyong Jik county blasted a crater big enough to be noticed by a satellite, the source said.

 

North Korea was founded 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 Thursday's reported explosion was linked to Pyongyang's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

 

That effort has led to six-nation talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its atomic weapons programs.

 

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 in the Yonhap report said Thursday's explosion reportedly was bigger than the train explosion.

 

I'm betting it was a nuclear weapons test.

[Guest BDC]

Already posted.

[Highland 0]

Yeah but it looks like he posted his first, so if the mods want they can merge or delete mine I guess.

[Guest Shoes Head]

Explosion Not Nuclear

 

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- A large cloud that appeared over North Korea in satellite images several days ago was not the result of a nuclear explosion, according to a U.S. official.

 

South Korea's Yonhap news agency is reporting a huge explosion shook North Korea's northernmost province on Thursday producing a mushroom cloud over two miles (4 km) wide.

 

The blast coincided with the anniversary of North Korea's founding on Sepember 9 when various military activities are staged.

 

The U.S. official said the cloud could be the result of a forest fire.

 

South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-yong said the government was aware of the reports and is checking them.

 

"I have no information about the size of the damage of the explosion," he said on Sunday, according to Yonhap.

 

Chung also said he believed there was no correlation between the explosion and reports of North Korea preparing for a possible nuclear test.

 

The New York Times reported on Saturday that U.S. President George W. Bush and his top advisers recently received intelligence reports that could indicate North Korea is preparing its first nuclear test, citing senior officials with access to the intelligence.

 

None of North Korea's known nuclear sites are in the country's northernmost provinces.

 

Yonhap reported the explosion happened in Yanggang province along the Chinese border, the site of Yongjori Missile Base -- a large facility with an underground missile firing range.

 

At least 161 people were killed in an explosion at Ryongchon Railway Station in April. It took three days for Pyongyang to break its silence on the blast.

[GreatWhiteNope 0]

The unnamed US Official who denies it was nuclear cites his reasoning as "it could be a forest fire".

 

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/09/12/nkorea.blast/

 

Fuck THAT.

 

On the day when the US predicted North Korea would test nuclear weapons for obvious reasons, a giant explosion goes off.

 

Put two and two together. A test happened.

[Highland 0]

I'm going to assume it's a test. I'm going to hope that that is all it was.

[teke184 0]

According to military personnel on Fox News this morning, they think it was a fuel bomb similar to the Daisy Cutter bomb or the MOAB (Mother Of All Bombs).

 

If so, it's powerful but it's also unwieldy. They said it was mainly used to clear out areas before you insert troops there using helicopters.

 

 

Granted, that may be a smokescreen because NO ONE would be happy if it came out that North Korea detonated a nuke, either one they bought or one they produced on their own.

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

North Korea are claiming that it was a demolition of a mountain for a hydroelectric plant. They have also indicated they will allow British diplomats to inspect the site.

[2GOLD 0]

North Korea are claiming that it was a demolition of a mountain for a hydroelectric plant. They have also indicated they will allow British diplomats to inspect the site.

 

And when that doesn't work, they'll claim swamp gas was the cause.

 

Can anyone tell me if any other bombs or any types of equipment used in mountain clearing form a mushroom cloud?