One comment

1. Guy Freeman

   A statistical point of interest: did the North Koreans in fact set off a nuclear explosion? This is not as easy to answer as you might think: due to the explosion taking place underground and the extreme secretiveness and opacity of the regime, the only numbers we have are proxies, e.g. seismic wave detections and radiological data from the atmosphere, and even those aren’t iron-cast.

   Apparently, according to CNN,

   A preliminary analysis of air samples from North Korea shows “radioactive debris consistent with a North Korea nuclear test,” according to a statement from the office of the top U.S. intelligence official

   but

   The report is in contrast to information provided to CNN earlier Friday from two U.S. government officials with access to classified information. Those officials said that an initial air sampling over North Korea showed no indication of radioactive debris

   so who knows what the truth is? Assuming there is objective truth and that we can deduce it etc.

   15 Oct 2006, 06:32

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