What One Photo Tells Us About North Korea's Nuclear Program

[dalton99a]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/24/world/asia/north-korea-propaganda-photo.html

What One Photo Tells Us About North Korea’s Nuclear Program
By MAX FISHER and JUGAL K. PATEL | FEB. 24, 2017

Experts who want to pierce North Korea’s extreme secrecy have to be creative. One surprisingly rich resource: the country’s own propaganda, like the photo below.



Images like this one might look silly, but they are rich with insights into the country’s military and politics. By using high-tech forensics and traditional detective work, analysts and intelligence agencies can use photos to track North Korea’s internal politics and expanding weapons programs with stunning granularity.

Several experts walked us through this photo of Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader, unveiling what he claimed was a new nuclear device. But the image, from March 2016, may show more than Mr. Kim intended: the possible range of the missile behind him, his relationship with the military, even his precise location.

North Korea calls this its first miniaturized nuclear warhead, small enough to fit on a missile. Analysts call it the disco ball. ...

[RKP5637]

1. "the disco ball." First thought that crossed my mind! n/t

[Nitram]

2. I doubt much can be learned from the photograph becawsue you can't take anything in it at

face value. The whole thing is probably a mock up to impress the Great Leader. Or serve as disinformation for foreign intelligence services. If the photo got out, it was approved for foreign eyes.