could N. korea fake a nuclear test?

Question

could they just pack a mine full of dynamite and explode that or would such a subterfuge be easily detected?

The N. K.'s specifically said in their release that NO RADIATION WAS LEAKED.
I found that unlikely, and, thus, became skeptical and submitted this question.

Thanks for the answers so far. I'm still interested to hear more.

Personally, I think they're for real. But, I have that small skepticism/theorectical curiosity that drives the question. I'm sure the US gov't (which I've come to distrust) will give a definitive opinion shortly.

Answer 1

My wife always fakes it.

Answer 2

The only problem with your question is that you are assuming everyone else understands that the threat to South Korea is North Koreas national product and what keeps them viable in the world as any sort of credible power, that they need the nuke to up the ante and stay viable as a threat in the world, thus we keep sending food and aid to ease thier nonstop suffering.
Its not that they need the weapon for any practical application as much as they need the credible respect of being capable is the point.
your question takes this a step further....

undoubtedly it would be hard to fake. we would have some sort of particle emission scanners or something i would think. just fly a stealth runner by with this gear equipped.
then again, given other things going on in the world maybe we'd pretend we were fooled if and when they did (giving Jong il the silent nod that he is still secure for a few more years while we are busy with other business).

Answer 3

It will be exposed for whatever it is very soon. Atmospheric measurements of radiation will answer a lot of questions, as well as satellite pictures. North Korea, led by a clearly insane nutjob, doing nuclear testing. It makes my head spin. We went looking for WMD's in Iraq, when we already knew that N Korea was actively building nuclear power meant for nothing but war. Is this world screwed up or WHAT?

Answer 4

That would be stupid on N K side. Too many worried countries right now. They would get wiped out pretty quickly. So it just doesn't make military sense to say they are testing a nucIear warhead, and only detonate dynamite. If they do anything, they'll do the real thing.

Answer 5

The South Koreans reported a 3.0 something trembler, I highly doubt that is TNT.

Not to mention we will be sending in some overflights looking for radiation leakages.

Answer 6

Not a chance. Were on them like flies on shitt--our satellites outta be able to see them in the act of preparing for it along with detecting the radiation and such---

Answer 7

they might not pretend it. Kim Jong Il is a friggin fool to announce to the international his intentions and then fail. He has shamed his comrades. He has made a giggling inventory of his human beings and his us of a. he's an entire failure. in the event that they have not already, the N.Korean human beings could desire to string him up the way the Italians did Mussolini, for the duration of WWII.

Answer 8

Theoretically they could have gathered a million or so and all jumped up and down at the same time and it would have measured as a small earthquake like a nuclear test.

Answer 9

Probably. When buildings are demolished there's seismic activity.

The question is, would detonating in a mine release radioactive material into the ground, and is that a smart thing to do?

Answer 10

The fingerprint of the omissions as seen from a satellite would be hard to fake. They could only fake it if people in power here wanted that to happen.

Answer 11

It would be more difficult than that. It's possible to dig a huge cavern under a hill and reinforce it. Then blow the supports. But it would take a really big cavern. Seems unlikely.