Episode 1251 · Oct 8, 2006 · 2h 39m
October 8, 2006: Energy Weapons and North Korea Nuclear Test - Dr. Doug Beason
Key Moments
Open transcriptNorth Korea's submarine threat to the U.S. coastKenneth Sewell warns that North Korea's second-largest submarine fleet in Asia could deliver a nuclear device to the U.S. coast.
If I were presidentblockade North Korea: Sewell says if he were president he would immediately blockade the entire country until inspections and a halt to the nuclear program.
Could Kim sell a bomb to al-Qaeda?Sewell raises the proliferation nightmare: a cash-starved Kim selling a nuclear weapon to terrorists who could attack a U.S. city anonymously.
Airborne Laserkill missiles in boost phase: Beason explains the megawatt-class airborne laser mounted on a 747 designed to shoot down ballistic missiles seconds after launch.
USGS confirms zero-depth event in North KoreaArt reads a fresh USGS bulletin: magnitude 4.2 at zero kilometers depth, which Beason agrees points strongly to a nuclear detonation, not an earthquake.
Sewell, author of Red Star Rogue, warns that North Korea possesses over 48 submarines capable of reaching the U.S. coast, making a naval blockade the most urgent response. He describes how even aging diesel submarines on a one-way mission could deliver a crude nuclear device to an American harbor, and argues the president must act immediately to bottle up the regime. The discussion turns to whether Kim Jong-il is reckless enough to sell a weapon to terrorists or provoke an arms race across Asia.
Dr. Beason, though unable to share classified analysis, explains how seismic signatures and atmospheric evidence help confirm underground nuclear tests. He then pivots to his book The E-Bomb, detailing how the Airborne Laser program could shoot down ballistic missiles at the speed of light, and why directed energy weapons represent the future of strategic defense.
Guest Library
Books by This Guest
Selected titles from the guest bibliography. Use them as context for this appearance, not required listening.
The E-Bomb: How America's New Directed Energy Weapons Will Change the Way Future Wars Will Be Fought
2005