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North Korean nuclear weapons program
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Azimuthal projection map centered on North Korea, showing concentric range circles for North Korean ballistic missiles. The circles illustrate the maximum reach of four missile types: Hwasong-6 (500 km), Hwasong-7 (1,200-1,500 km), Hwasong-16B (5,500 km), and Hwasong-17 (15,000 km), covering regions from East Asia to much of the globe, including the United States and Europe. Ri Chun-Hee announces North Korean nuclear test Map of the Korean Peninsula highlighting North Korea, with labeled locations for Yongbyon, the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center, Pyongyang, and the demilitarized zone along the border with South Korea. Neighboring countries China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea are also shown for regional context. Nuclear facilities at Yongbyon
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Azimuthal projection map centered on North Korea, showing concentric range circles for North Korean ballistic missiles. The circles illustrate the maximum reach of four missile types: Hwasong-6 (500 km), Hwasong-7 (1,200-1,500 km), Hwasong-16B (5,500 km), and Hwasong-17 (15,000 km), covering regions from East Asia to much of the globe, including the United States and Europe.
North Korean ballistic missile capabilities Map showing the range of North Korean ballistic missiles and the regions that could be reached by different missile types.

North Korean nuclear weapons program

North Korean government program
Written by
Ethan Teekah
Ethan Teekah is an Associate Editor at Encyclopædia Britannica, where he leads coverage of Asia.
Ethan Teekah
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is a longstanding challenge to global security. The Kim regime—North Korea’s authoritarian ruling dynasty founded by Kim Il-Sung and now led by his grandson Kim Jong-Un—has made nuclear weapons a national priority, viewing them as a deterrent against foreign intervention and a guarantee of regime survival. Since conducting its first nuclear test in 2006, North Korea has developed a growing arsenal of nuclear devices and increasingly sophisticated ballistic missiles, including...

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