North Korea's Nuclear Test Has "failed".

[vetuste_ennemi]

Good result, don't you think?

A successful test would have elicited a US response (what form might that take, you may ask.).
Cancellation of test would be seen as surrender to imperialist bullying and loss of face.

I remember (as a kid) the Cuban missile crisis. Scariest moment of my life. Second scariest the financial collapse in 2008 post Lehman's. This the third.

Possibly (given the muted US response) a triumph for diplomacy.

[Jackdaw33]

More a triumph for the fact that NK couldn't organise the proverbial in a brewery.

[Khandro]

It's win-win; NK looks as if a mere technicality prevented it taking place, small portion of egg on face but not serious and the US is relieved from having to respond. Let us hope that is the end of it.

[waterboatman]

Dream on Khandro. The evil wee git won't back down over something like that. It would be good for the world if he did. Most of his nonsense is hot air, he's not that stupid!

[david small]

I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the North Korean's failed on purpose. Thereby saving face, and averting imminent conflict.

[mikey4444]

i am with Boaty here....the one with the worst hair cut in the world will try again soon, and next time he might succeed....after all, its not rocket science is it ? ( ! )

[Jackdaw33]

//.the one with the worst hair cut in the world will try again\\

You just have to drag Trump into everything, don't you.

[Peter Pedant]

as someone who looks for evidence ( the whole time)
we dont know that it is nucular do we ?

a missle splotting like that carrying U-235 or Pu would when blowing up ( or going splot ! ) seed a LOT of radioactivity into the atmosphere. ( Chernobyl first detected at Windscale in 1985 )

- OK nucular missile in the sense it COULD carry a nucular war head
-
US not surprised it was a failure - sounz a bit odd
they knew there was gonna be one and they knew it was gonna fail

I thought the Americans would probably shoot down the missile with a 'hit-ile' - rocket that goes after a rocket - easy to think of but quite hard to produce.

Odd Easter Sunday - not very eastery thought on Easter Day

[aelmpvw]

launch failed? wouldn't want to be the head scientist in charge of the north korean nuclear program would you?

[Jackdaw33]

Nor me. He's likely for the chop.

[ichkeria]

I don't think there is any suggestion that the missile had a nuclear warhead Peter. They WOULD be a cause for grave disquiet if so . Intelligence suggests that NK is some way off being able to create such weapons.

[ichkeria]

Yes, assuming his knowledge is expendable it may be bonanza time for Mr Kim's dogs ...

[Jackdaw33]

Were it not for the backing of China this nutcase of a country would have collapsed decades ago. Even the Chinese are now getting fed up with Mr Kim and his antics. We can but hope.

[Khandro]

Waterboatman; //The evil wee git won't back down over something like that.//
I think there is enormous pressure coming from China his only ally to stop playing games and without China's support, his country and his despicable regime would face collapse.

[Jackdaw33]

Pyongyang Daily Herald.
Classified ads; employment.

A sudden vacancy has arisen for the position of head of our nuclear training programme. All applications including full CV to Mr Kim Jong Un. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a proven track record of achievement in this field and be in possession of his own suicide pill. No timewasters need apply.

The ability to kiss the Dear Leader's ****, though not essential, would be a distinct advantage.

[cassa333]

Give them a bit of time and they will have enough fire power to wipe out the world. Even if that is simply by setting of one bomb, it only has to be strategically targeted and the rest of the nuclear holders will get twitchy. Pufffffff

This rocket failure is a short term loss.

[vulcan42]

No doubt the North Koreans will issue a statement blaming the Americans for interfering electronically with their missile causing the failure.

[Togo]

Not so far fetched that Vulcan. There has been some speculation that the US may have interfered with a cyber attack or virus type spoiler. Remember when all the centrifuges in Iran went wonky after a US/Israeli counter measure embedded in software?

[Togo]

For Vulcan....many a true word etc..

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/north-koreas-unsuccessful-missile-launch-may-have-been-thwarted-by-us-cyber-attack/ar-BBzUG4A?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=spartanntp

[TWR]

You can't stop a clown playing with the worlds patience.