What - If ...

"What if Iran were prepared to do a nuclear test? And if it were done not on Iranian territory, but instead without looking back at world opinion, done where nuclear tests always took place, where people stood ready to export nuclear expertise and technology in exchange for hard currency - in North Korea?
"That would be a sensation, although not quite a surprise, to be sure. Intelligence services have observed a close degree of cooperation between North Korean and Iranian experts over a period of years for the preparation of a nuclear test, although the previous assumptions centered on the prospect of an underground nuclear test in Iranian territory." Hans Ruhle former West German security official: report in Berlin's Die Welt

Held, of course, to be speculative, since there is as yet no direct evidence, but merely a modicum and more of reasonable speculation, given the relationship and the reputations of each of these countries. Covert activity both have been well engaged in, underscores the reality that such a scenario is indeed completely feasible.

And Mr. Ruhle revealed his interesting contemplative thoughts just as President Barack Obama reassuringly informed his American constituents and partner-in-peace Israel that there is no reason for concern at the moment, since:

"Iran does not yet have a nuclear weapon and is not yet in a position to obtain a nuclear weapon without us having a pretty long lead time in which we will know that they are making that attempt."

Don't we already know that "they are making that attempt"? Goodness, we thought we knew that already. And we were obviously mistaken, since we have it on the highest authority - Nobel Laureate level no less - that we are clearly self-deluded. And here we were attributing delusion to the Islamic Republic of Iran. How wrong can one be?

Very wrong, it appears, although it is not necessarily those who are 'unduly' alarmed by the prospect, the very clear, very near prospect, of Iran becoming the proud possessor of nuclear arsenals. Yet scientists around the world are debating just that very real possibility, as having already occurred. That North Korea has already guest-hosted an event or two on behalf of their great good friend, Iran.

A report last month appearing in the science magazine Nature suggested that possibility. It is not noted for publishing creatively imaginative science fiction, as fascinating as that genre is. The magazine reported on a Swedish scientific study that came to the conclusion that North Korea conducted two small-scale, very hushed, nuclear tests in mid-April and mid-May, 2010. Hush!

Dr. Lars-Erik De Geer, an atmospheric scientist with the Swedish Defence Research Agency, Stockholm, initiated research into such bizarre claims as an Iranian-North Korean binary test series of nuclear fusion. South Korean scientists affirmed their detection of the radioactive gas xenon during that very same time frame.

Dr. De Geer busied himself for a year studying radioisotope data from monitoring stations in South Korea, Russia and Japan. His conclusion? "North Korea carried out two small nuclear tests in April and May 2010 that caused explosions in the range of 50 - 200 tonnes of TNT." A modest, and notable initiation, geared to expansion.

The UN's IAEA asked Iran last November for an explanation of evidence that seemed to suggest Iran had experimented with advanced nuclear warhead design. An Israeli online intelligence and security news service quoted unnamed Japanese intelligence sources: "at least one of North Korea's covert tests in 2010 was carried out on an Iranian radioactive bomb or nuclear warhead."

And, rather convincingly the report indicates that Tehran had shipped a large quantity of highly enriched uranium to Pyongyang in May. Following which the Central Bank of Iran transferred $55-million to the account of the North Korean Atomic Energy Commission. Good friends cooperating nicely with one another.

Two impoverished nations consorting in tandem with costly atomic enterprises.

Fairly convincing little leads here and there ... and everywhere.