Page 8 - Constant Phoenix News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Explosion. >> these radio isotopes decay very quickly in the air. i suspect in japan, you know, depending on the wind patterns and where things are -- how -- whether it's possible that the atmospheric conditions could be moving into japan from north korea. i suspect that they would -- that they are already testing for anything in the atmosphere. i believe they have a wc-135 of their own. then they also have inherent capabilities that exist in japan that they would be able to test for this. but because they decay very quickly, it's always, as soon as there's any indication there may have been a...

Conditions. so in this case, it would be looking for testing potential radio isotopes that may be up in the air. these isotopes behave very quickly but general military in the region. they keep them flying all the time all around the world. it will be able to tell them depending on how quickly they can get the samples, should be able to tell them what kind of weapon may have been tested here if it was a weapon. but japanese, i believe also have a wc 135 that they could get up much quicker and in the region there. so that is the next thing we might be hearing out of the military, it is a sensit...

>>. >> reporter: at this point we don't have confirmation from the u.s. government that this is a nuclear test at all. speculation based on the time of day, the seismic activity that it was, the size and the aftermath of it. i am far from a seismic expert. but based on after one of these events whether there are specific measurements of waves afterwards give an indication whether this could in fact have been an actual earthquake or some explosion. the u.s. government is not confirming any of that at this point. what we should see now and i suspect is already happening is the u.s. military will...

Jennifer griffin joins us live from the pentagon. what can you tell us about this close encounter? >> the incident occurred wednesday in the east china sea, west of north korea. two chinese aircraft intercepted the constant phoenix. it's known as a sniffer plane, a spy plane the contest for signs of a nuclear test in the atmosphere. the u.s. surveillance plane was operating in accordance with international law according to a statement released by the pacific spokesman. while we are still advancing the incident, initial reports from the aircrew characterized the intercept is unprofessional. the...

Put this into context for us. we think north korea could be preparing for this first nuclear test under the trump administration. sixth nuclear test overall. what could really happen in the next 48 hours? what is your reporting? >> my reporting, hallie is that the intelligence community believes this test could happen at any time with no warning. you're absolutely right. the military has deployed a number of air assets to the region in recent days, but consistent for the past few weeks and months even. one of them is the u2 spy plane that is a high-flying, single engine jet that can collect im...