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Doubts Continue Over N. Korea Detonation

Doubts continue to dog the aftermath of North Korea?s alleged nuclear weapons test conducted earlier this week, with both U.S. and South Korean scientists expressing serious doubts as to the magnitude of the blast and whether it was fully successful or not. In related news, a tremor felt in Japan on Wednesday morning led to speculation over whether or not Pyongyang had conducted its previously-threatened second nuclear test, but Japanese officials came out later in the day to say there was no evidence that the North Koreans had conducted any further tests.

While Russian officials backed up the claims of the North Korean government that the test was successful, over-flights by U.S. aircraft ? relics of the Cold War ? designed to detect radioactivity after just such an event have failed to pick up even the smallest traces of isotopes. If North Korea had managed to contain any radioactive materials that would have otherwise escaped due to the detonation of a nuclear device, it would represent a technological advance for the Stalinist nation that few think it able to possess.

Also being called into question on Wednesday were the chances for meaningful sanctions to be passed by the United Nations Security Council. While the Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea?s alleged nuclear test, both the Russian Federation and People?s Republic of China tend to oppose sanctions in the Security Council in general but against non-democratic countries which are their allies.