What could possibly be the motive

[happydreams]

for N. Korea faking a nuke detonation if in fact that is the case? Was it a timely earthquake that the N. Koreans are using to play geo-political games?

It kind of reminds me of Saddam Hussein claiming he had WMD's when he didn't.

If the tests are bogus then maybe N. Korea's motive may be to make Bush look foolish, and/or to feel out his response if and when they really test one. Bush's faith based intelligence community reacting to bogus threats only reinforces their reputation they already have for overreaction and bumbling in the face of non-existent threats. Iraq being the most glaring example.
Let's see if the faith based fool in the WhiteHouse can find out what really happened.

Just some thoughts, please ad your own.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Fear.

NGU.

[magellan]

2. I've read that area isn't known to be seismically active

It might have been happy coincidence that the earth moved for Kim. Or he MIHOP with conventional explosives.

Whatever, he did succeed in making Bush** look foolish (more foolish) and the lack of certainty gives him the upper hand. Bush** can't afford to teach Kim a lesson the way he did Hussein. Although, if NK had oil, I'd be MUCH more worried about Dimson's next step.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Tests weren't bogus.

The US is just in denial.

[happydreams]

5. There is some question about their validity...

as posted hear at DU.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. The test was real

seems the US will only take one test as valid....

A mushroom cloud preferably not over an American city.

What you are seeing is a classic case of denial... if we say it didn't happen, then it did not... get it now?