This article will talk about a nuclear test in North Korea, as well as about other countries that may pose a threat. We will examine this issue in detail from all sides, as well as study nuclear tests in Korea and talk about the potential of other countries.
DPRK nuclear missile program
This is the name of the complex of research work on the creation of nuclear charges in North Korea. All data is based on official documents or statements of the government of the country, since the development is hidden. The authorities assure that all tests are exclusively peaceful in nature and are aimed at exploring space. In the winter of 2005, North Korea officially announced nuclear weapons and a year later it launched its first explosion.
It is known that after the war, the United States regularly threatened North Korea with the possibility of using nuclear weapons. Ruler Kim Il Sung, being under the protection of the USSR, was calm in this regard until he found out that the United States planned to drop 7 nuclear weapons on Pyongyang during the Korean War. This served as a powerful impetus for the start of nuclear energy research in Korea. It is generally accepted that 1952 is the beginning of the DPRK nuclear activity. The country acted in conjunction with the USSR, which provided considerable assistance. The development of nuclear weapons in North Korea began in the 1970s. An agreement was concluded with China, which allowed researchers to their landfills.
In 1985, under strong pressure from the USSR, the DPRK signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
First test
In the fall of 2006, the country's authorities announced that the first nuclear test was successfully carried out. The official statement said that it was an underground test that would serve peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. The study took place at the Pungeri training ground, which is located in the north-east of the republic, less than 200 km from the border with Russia. The earthquake caused earthquakes in Japan, the USA, Australia, South Korea and Russia.
After that, the question of whether North Korea had nuclear weapons no longer stood. Chinese authorities were warned 2 hours before the explosion. World powers, including Russia and China, as well as the highest echelons of power of the European Union and NATO, were critical of nuclear weapons testing. Political leaders openly expressed their displeasure. Because of this , the North Korean army, the armament of which deserves attention, immediately went on alert.
Second test
In the spring of 2009, the second test passed, the power of which was much greater. After the explosion in 9 languages, Korea’s international radio broadcast that their people had come out in support of a weapon test, since the United States regularly posed a threat. Korea, in turn, is simply taking decisive measures to possibly protect its territory.
At the same time, South Korea joined the countries that negatively reacted to this state of affairs. The US government even put forward sanctions against the DPRK. In response, authorities said that if mass searches were conducted, Korea would take this as the start of a war.
Third test
In the winter of 2013, the republic publicly announced its intention to conduct another test. In February, researchers from the United States noticed tremors, the localization of which was approximately in the area of the nuclear test site of North Korea. The UN announced the discovery of a strange seismic phenomenon with signs of an explosion. On the same day, North Korean authorities announced a successful experiment. On December 12, 2012, DPRK researchers launched a new satellite into orbit, which caused a crisis in the country. Relations between the United States, South Korea, Japan and North Korea have intensified.
Still wondering if North Korea has nuclear weapons, and how many? It will be useful to know that in 2015, Kim Jong-un officially announced that the country has a hydrogen bomb. Analysts said with confidence that, most likely, developments in this direction are underway, but there are no ready-made warheads yet.
In January 2016, South Korean authorities shared information that the DPRK was allegedly preparing to test a hydrogen bomb. Scouts said that tritium production was established in North Korea, it is necessary to create a bomb, and a new underground tunnel is being built. In the winter of 2017, on the orders of Kim Jong-un, the first thermonuclear bomb explosion was carried out near the Chinese border. This information was confirmed by Chinese researchers. In the autumn of the same year, information was officially confirmed that the DPRK owns a hydrogen bomb.
Fourth test
In the winter of 2016, North Korea again reminded itself of itself. The nuclear power carried out another explosion and soon announced that it had passed the first successful test of a hydrogen bomb. However, experts from around the world showed some distrust of these words and doubted that it was precisely the hydrogen bomb. They insisted that the explosion was supposed to be more powerful in several hundred thousand million tons. It was equal to what happened in 2009. Its power was compared to a bomb that exploded in Hiroshima.
Fifth test
In the fall of 2016, a powerful seismic explosion occurred on the territory of the country in the morning. The epicenter was located in the village, near the Pungeri training ground. US geologists have classified seismic shocks as an explosion. A little later, the DPRK officially announced the successful conduct of the fifth nuclear weapon test.
Sixth test
On September 3, 2017, the most powerful tremors were recorded on the territory of North Korea. They were noticed by seismic stations in many countries. This time, scientists agreed that the explosion was ground-based. It happened in the afternoon, local time, in the area of the Pungeri training ground. The Korean authorities have officially announced the successful testing of a nuclear warhead. The power of the explosion was incredible and 10 times higher than that of the fall of 2016. A few minutes after the first shock, the US Geological Survey recorded another. Multiple landslides were visible from the satellite.
Countries
When North Korea acquired nuclear weapons, it joined the so-called Nuclear Club, which consists of states that own different amounts of such weapons. List of countries that legally own facilities: France, China, Great Britain, Russia and the USA. Legitimate owners are Pakistan, India, and North Korea.
It is worth mentioning that Israel is not officially considered the owner of nuclear weapons, but many world experts are sure that the country has its own secret developments. However, many states at one time were engaged in the development of such weapons. Moreover, not everyone signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968, and many of those who signed it did not ratify it. That is why the threat still exists.
USA
The list of countries with nuclear weapons will begin with the United States. The basis of its power lies in ballistic missiles in submarines. It is known that at the moment the United States has more than 1,500 warheads. After World War II, the production of weapons increased sharply, but in 1997 it was discontinued.
Russia
So, the list of countries with nuclear weapons continues to the Russian Federation, which owns 1,480 warheads. It also has ammunition that can be used in naval, strategic, missile and aviation forces.
Over the past decade, the number of weapons in Russia has decreased significantly thanks to the signing of a treaty on mutual disarmament. The Russian Federation, like the United States, also signed the 1968 treaty; therefore, it is included in the list of countries that possess nuclear weapons legitimately. Moreover, the presence of such a threat allows Russia to adequately defend its political and economic interests.
France
How strong is the army of North Korea, we already understood, but what about European countries? France, for example, owns 300 warheads that can be used on submarines. The country also has about 60 multiprocessors that can be used for military aviation. The arms stock of this country seems negligible compared to the volumes of the USA and Russia, but this is also significant. France fought for a very long time for independence in terms of developing its own weapons. Researchers tried to invent a supercomputer, tested nuclear weapons. But all this lasted until 1998, after which all developments were destroyed and discontinued.
United Kingdom
This country owns approximately 255 nuclear weapons, of which more than 150 are in full readiness for use in submarines. Inaccuracies in the quantity of weapons in the UK are caused by the fact that policy principles prohibit the posting of detailed information on the quality of weapons. The country is not trying to increase its nuclear potential, but is by no means going to lower it. There is an active policy of containing the use of lethal weapons.
China, India, Pakistan
We will talk about how much nuclear weapons North Korea has in the meantime, but for now, let's pay attention to China, which owns about 240 nuclear weapons. According to unofficial data, it is estimated that there are about 40 intercontinental missiles and about 1000 short-range missiles in the country. The government does not provide any accurate data on the quantity of weapons, assuring that it will be kept at a minimum level to guarantee security.
The Chinese authorities also claim that they will never use this type of weapon first, and if they have to use it, it will not be sent to countries that do not have nuclear weapons. Needless to say, the world community reacts very positively to such statements.
We have already examined North Korea’s nuclear weapons, but what about a multifaceted country like India? Experts believe that it refers to states that own deadly weapons illegitimate. It is believed that the military stock consists of thermonuclear and nuclear warheads. There are still ballistic missiles, short and medium-range missiles. Despite the fact that the country possesses nuclear weapons, this is not discussed at all on the world stage and no information is provided, which upsets the world community.
In Pakistan, according to experts, there are about 200 warheads. However, this is only unofficial data, as there is no accurate information. The public reacted very harshly to all nuclear weapons tests in this country. Pakistan received a lot of economic sanctions from almost all countries of the world, except for Saudi Arabia, since it was connected with it by oil supply agreements.
The North Korean army, whose weapons are clearly sufficient, is still the main global threat. The government does not want to provide any rough information on the quantity of weapons. It is known that there are medium-range missiles and the Musudan mobile missile system. Due to the fact that the DPRK regularly tests its weapons and even publicly states that it is in the country, economic sanctions are regularly imposed on it. Six-party talks between the countries have been ongoing for a long time, but despite all this, Korea is not going to stop its research.
As for the mentioned negotiations, they started back in 2003. The participants were the United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea. The first three rounds of negotiations that took place in 2003-2004 did not bring any practical result. The fourth round was held without the participation of Pyongyang - the capital of the DPRK. This happened because of a new crisis in relations between the DPRK and America and Japan.
At all stages of the negotiations, this is about the same thing - that the country curtailed its nuclear program and destroyed the created weapons. The United States offered Korea economic benefits and a full guarantee that there will be no more aggression and threats from them. However, when all the participating countries demanded that the DPRK completely curtail all its activities, and even under the control of the IAEA, Korea resolutely refused.
Later, the country nevertheless softened its conditions and agreed to temporarily freeze its research in exchange for the supply of fuel oil on the conditions most favorable to Korea. However, at this point the United States and Japan were no longer freezing enough, they wanted a complete cessation of the nuclear program. Naturally, the DPRK did not accept such conditions.
Subsequently, the United States managed to agree with Korea on the temporary freezing of all trials for a good reward. However, after this, the participating countries began to demand the most desirable thing - to completely stop and destroy all developments. Once again, Korea rejected such conditions.
Negotiations are still ongoing, and situations are similar: as soon as the DPRK makes concessions, they demand even more from it. Korea, in turn, under no circumstances agrees to curtail its nuclear missile program.