Analyst says biggest fear is an atmospheric test
A US nuclear and security analyst says his "biggest fear" is that North Korea's recent statements signal the country might conduct an atmospheric test of a nuclear weapon atop a missile.
Such tests have been conducted in the past by the United States and China but not in recent decades.
Vipin Narang, a nuclear expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said such a test would be worse than testing a longer range for an intercontinental ballistic missile, which is another scenario the North may be considering.
He said such a test could pose a danger to shipping and aircraft, even if the North declared a "keep out" zone, and would pose a risk to people if something went wrong. "We are talking about putting a live nuclear warhead on a missile that has been tested only a handful of times. It is truly terrifying if something goes wrong."
