The official news agency of Russia, ITAR-TASS has an official confirmation
from the Russian Defense Ministry that there was a third stage engine failure
during the launch of the Bulava missile from the nuclear submarine the Dmitry Donskoi
(spelling sometimes also Dmitri Donskoy)
Story here -
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2....6373&PageNum=0
In another related story today, ITAR-TASS also reports today that the US and Russia have "
coordinated the main
part of the text of a new agreement to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1)".
START-1 was set to expire on 5 Dec
"but currently remains in force indefinitely pending agreement
on a successor, since Russia and the United States failed to reach agreement on a new pact until the deadline."
The story goes on to report that Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev on March 17th 2009
"signalled that Russia would begin a “large- scale” rearmament and renewal of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. President Medvedev
accused NATO of pushing ahead with expansion near Russian borders and ordered that this rearmament commence in
2011 with increased army, naval, and nuclear capabilities."
Full text here -
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2....4849&PageNum=0
So the accidental fireworks display seen over Norway could be viewed as a side-effect of a bigger show going on.