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"I can state with a full sense of responsibility that oscillations recorded during nuclear tests have absolutely different characteristics..."
The same day, State Department spokesperson James Rubin observed:
"Let me point out that the information we have is not conclusive... We are not able to confirm that a nuclear test has taken place, thus we cannot rule out an earthquake or another natural explanation."
On 2 September, Defense Department spokesperson Kenneth Bacon told reporters that the evidence was still being sifted:
"One of the issues that has emerged now is exactly where it took place - whether it took place on water or whether it took place on land. And experts now have competing views on [this]... Some experts believe that it could have been an earthquake, others believe that it had the characteristics of an explosion."
On 13 September, the Associated Press claimed to have seen a classified US Air Force study, dated 4 September, suggesting that the event took place offshore, and was most probably a natural tremor.
Reports: Transcript - State Dept. noon briefing, United States Information Service, 29 August; US asks for assurance on test ban after activity detected at Russian site, Washington Post, 29 August; Russia denies nuke test allegation, Associated Press, 29 August; Nuclear site tremor caused by quake, Associated Press, 2 September; Transcript - Pentagon spokesman's regular Tuesday briefing, United States Information Service, 3 September; Study supports Russia test denial, Associated Press, 13 September.
© 1998 The Acronym Institute.