North Korean nuclear test (2009)

DPRK test 2

Test deviceNorth KoreaImplosion fission

No freely licensed photo of this device yet.

Yield · TNT equivalent2–5.4 kt

Key specs

Country: North Korea
Design: Implosion fission
Type: Test device
Number built: 1

Overview

North Korea’s second underground nuclear test, at Punggye-ri in May 2009, with an estimated yield of 2–5.4 kt, several times larger than the first.

Effect radii: estimates

Calculated for 5.4 kt

Fireball, maximum radius: ≈ 120 m
Initial radiation, 500 rem (5 Sv): ≈ 1.2 km
Blast 5 psi: most buildings collapse: ≈ 1.2 km
Thermal: third-degree burns: ≈ 1.3 km
Blast 1 psi: windows shatter: ≈ 3.9 km

Estimated ground ranges for an air burst at the optimum height over flat, open ground, computed from the yield with standard scaling laws. These are not measurements: real effects depend on the height of burst, terrain, buildings and weather.

Formulas from: Glasstone & Dolan, The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (1977), chapter II; Carey Sublette, Nuclear Weapons FAQ, section 5

Tests and use

Date	Event	Site	Yield
May 25, 2009	North Korean nuclear test (2009)	Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea	5.4 kt

Sources

2009 North Korean nuclear test, Wikipedia