DATE=5/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232908
TITLE=PAK TEST MONITORING (S)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PAKISTAN'S GOVERNMENT SAYS THE SOUTH ASIAN NATION 
EXPLODED TWO NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT AN UNDERGROUND TEST SITE.  THE 
MOVE FOLLOWS FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS BY NEIGHBOR AND RIVAL INDIA.  
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON ARE WORKING 
TO CONFIRM THE LONG-EXPECTED TEST.

TEXT:  PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE  NOT  YET RECEIVED 
INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THE PAKISTANI TESTS, AND A SPOKESMAN 
FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SAYS THEY ARE ACTIVLY SEEKING 
SCIENTIFIC VERIFICATION.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS EXPERTS SAY SUCH TESTS SEND SEISMIC WAVES THAT 
CAN DETECTED AROUND THE GLOBE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.  THEY SAY 
IT TAKES SOME TIME AND COMPUTER POWER TO ANALYZE THE DATA TO TELL
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EARTHQUAKE AND A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION.  

THE EARLIER NUCLEAR TESTS IN INDIA WERE DETECTED BY MORE THAN 100
SEISMIC MONITORS IN A GLOBAL NETWORK OF SEVERAL HUNDRED.

EXPERTS SAY A NUCLEAR BLAST EQUIVALENT TO ONE THOUSAND TONS OF 
HIGH EXPLOSIVE WOULD SHOW UP AS A SEISMIC EVENT OF ABOUT FOUR 
POINT ONE ON THE RICHTER EARTHQUAKE MEASURINIG SCALE.

THE APPARENT TESTS IN PAKISTAN FOLLOW GLOBAL CONDEMNATION OF THE 
TESTS IN INDIA, AND COME OVER THE STRONG OBJECTIONS OF MANY 
NATIONS INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/MMK

28-May-98 8:34 AM EDT (1234 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.