North Korea claims successful test of Hydrogen Bomb

[bilby]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-06/north-korea-carries-out-successful-hydrogen-bomb-test/7070848

I am sceptical; The seismic data suggests a nuke test, but an H-bomb? Do the Norks have that level of technological ability? And if they do, why bother to develop an expensive H-Bomb, when their A-Bomb capability gives them much the same diplomatic leverage, and while their delivery systems are so poor?

Tactically, strategically and diplomatically it would surely be better for them to spend the money on a ballistic missile system that can carry their existing A-Bomb to Japan, or even the USA.

Of course, blowing up an A-Bomb, and then claiming that they had successfully tested an H-Bomb would be cheaper still, almost as effective as an actual H-Bomb strategically and diplomatically, and very much in keeping with the Nork's historical level of respect for truthful, non-bombastic dialog with her neighbours and adversaries.

So, do the Norks have a thermonuclear device? And if so, what (if anything) does this imply, that was not already implied by their known possession of A-Bomb capability?

 

[Trausti]

Why not an H bomb? They apparently succeeded in testing an nuclear/fission bomb in '13. Yo Yo Kim needs this to get attention. Otherwise, the world would forget there's a North Korea. 화이팅!

 

[bilby]

Why not an H bomb? They apparently succeeded in testing an nuclear/fission bomb in '13. Yo Yo Kim needs this to get attention. Otherwise, the world would forget there's a North Korea. 화이팅!

Two years seems a suspiciously short time-frame to go from a first A-Bomb to first H-Bomb test. The Soviets took 4 years before their first H-Bomb test, and 6 before their first successful test of a bomb that yielded more from fusion than from the fissile component, despite massively greater resources than today's North Korea has to apply to the problem.

It is known that the Soviets also had a number of spies feeding them information from the US program, which must have been a significant help to their program; While it seems far less likely to me that the North Koreans have any such highly placed agents in place in any of the world's thermonuclear powers.

I guess the Chinese could be (wittingly or unwittingly) supplying information to the Norks, but it seems doubtful - in the '40s there were plenty of physicists in the US who thought (however mistakenly) that Soviet Communism was an idea worth supporting; I find it hard to imagine a Chinese physicist having such an idealistic view of the North Korean regime in 2015.

Of course, balancing that is the fact that even in North Korea, 2015 computers are a lot better than anything available to anyone in 1950.

 

[Trausti]

Their cousins in the South have one of the highest global IQs. So the Norks likely have the smarts to make an H bomb. Anyway, most, if not all, posters on this forum probably understand what an H bomb is and can explain, in general terms, how it works. Some posters on this forum could probably even build one if given the funds and supplies. I mean, unlike 60 years ago, the info is already out there if you really want to build one. The biggest hurdle, I'd guess, is sourcing the plutonium, deuterium, etc.

 

[dismal]

So, do the Norks have a thermonuclear device?

No. Bill Clinton/Jimmy Carter got them to sign an Iran-style nuclear agreement ending such possibilities.

 

[bilby]

Well the estimated yields from experts outside Notrh Korea range from 40kt to as low as 6kt, which suggests no Hydrogen was harmed in the making of this explosion. http://m.voanews.com/a/north-korea-h-bomb-test/3133083.html

Bullshit is apparently easier to make than thermonuclear devices.