From the CNN: "The U.S. official said the cloud could be the result of a forest fire."

A forest fire that leaves a crater? This from the AP:"The Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified source in Beijing, said the explosion happened Thursday in Yanggang province near the border with China. The explosion in Kim Hyong Jik county blasted a crater big enough to be noticed by a satellite, the source said."

One of these accounts is obviously incorrect. Tom is right below when he says that if there's one thing the US can dectect is a nuclear test. But my question is, would they acknowledge it.

In my opinion, North Korea is desperately struggling. Just about the only thing that keeps country functioning at a minimal level is the foriegn aid that they've extracted by using their crazy gambits. The Bush administration sees through this and that's why they've engaged in a basic do nothing policy, all the while engaged in cumbersome, cynical, time-wasting six-party talks. I'm not sure NK can survive another year. If they're getting really close to the end, they'll get crazier and crazier, hoping for a few more boatloads of grain. And since the whole Bush policy is to ignore Pyongyang, tantrums, in response to a nuclear test they'd probably, well... ignore it.

And deny it. If there is confirmation of an atom bomb, then there might be pressure to just do something, George! I think doing nothing is the correct course of action here.