What Causes a Nuclear Fizzle in Chain Reactions?

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The first tests of North-Korean nuclear bombs were reported to be "just a nuclear fizzle".
What does that mean?
Was the reaction speed to slow to create an explosion?
Where is the difference between an efficient chain reaction (resulting in an explosion) an a fizzle?

Thanks for your help!
 
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Dunno for sure, but I'd suspect that it refers to a case where a chain reaction is initiated, but the fissionables blow apart before the reaction can run to completion.
 
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