exploded with less than 1 kiloton of power Some believe the weapon may not have functioned properly despite North Korea's claims that the test was a complete success The testing didn't stop there North Korea detonated nuclear bombs in 2009 in 2013 and twice in 2016 By 2016 the power of the blast had increased to 9 kilotons A powerful nuclear weapon isn't much use unless North Korea can deliver it to a desired target Alongside its nuclear tests the country has been testing rocket and missile THE ULTIMATE WEAPON In January 2016 North Korea set off an explosion of approximately 9 kilotons The country claimed it had detonated a hydrogen bomb but scientists were skeptical A hydrogen bomb also called a thermonuclear weapon is the most destructive nuclear device in existence It combines the power of both fission and fusion A regular atomic bomb explodes due to a runaway chain of fission reactions In a hydrogen bomb this fission explosion forces a second stage of the bomb which contains hydrogen fuel to implode and undergo fusion releasing even more destructive power When the United States tested a hydrogen bomb in 1954 the blast yielded 14 8 megatons of energy North Korea's test explosion wasn't big enough to be a two stage thermonuclear weapon Either the claim was a bluff or the country tested a less powerful version of the weapon technology A small nuclear bomb could be fitted onto the tip of a missile with the ability to fly thousands of miles and hit a specified target Such a missile may be launched from the ground or from a submarine North Korea has proved through numerous tests that it
has short range missiles which could reach most of South Korea and Japan It is also developing intercontinental ballistic missiles which could reach targets in the continental United States RULE BREAKER Every one of North Korea's nuclear and missile tests has violated international laws and treaties that govern the use of military force The United Nations UN Security Council an international organization tasked with maintaining peace and security throughout the world has unanimously passed numerous resolutions in response to North Korea's nuclear tests Each resolution condemns the test and imposes sanctions on the country These sanctions are punishments intended to make it difficult for North Korea to continue to develop weapons Some sanctions limit or prevent trade in certain materials and technology allowing cargo heading for the country to be searched Others put limits on travel and spending for people suspected of being involved in the nuclear program The United States has also imposed its own sanctions on North Korea directly
Exhaust deflector filled with rain water Fueloxidizer buiding Fuelfoxidizer building Gantry fower foundation Launch pad foundation Control Bulding Analysts examine satellite photos of North Korean facilities to estimate the progress of missile and weapons programs Despite the resolutions and sanctions North Korea has continued to develop nuclear weapons and missile technology Direct evidence about the size of North Korea's nuclear arsenal is very difficult to come by due to the country's extreme secrecy and isolation No one outside of North Korea knows exactly how many weapons the country has on hand However experts in nuclear technology can make educated guesses based on the information that is available including satellite imagery of nuclear facilities As of 2016 the Institute for Science and International Security estimates that North Korea has between 13 and 30 nuclear weapons and is actively
building more The size of the arsenal could approach 50 weapons by 2020 In the past countries such as the United States have largely ignored North Korea and its threats Its bombs simply weren't powerful enough or its missiles far reaching enough to pose a real danger Plus an attack on the United States would be suicidal The larger country would almost FAR FROM ACHIEVING ITS STATED NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS NORTH KOREA'S PROVOCATIVE AND DESTABILIZING ACTIONS HAVE INSTEAD SERVED TO ISOLATE AND IMPOVERISH ITS PEOPLE THROUGH ITS RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND BALLISTIC MISSILE CAPABILITIES 9 certainly retaliate with weapons powerful enough to completely devastate North Korea But North Korea's power is growing PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SEPTEMBER 2016 When President Donald Trump took office in January 2017 his predecessor Barack Obama warned him that the most urgent problem he was likely to face was the situation with North Korea In April 2017 US secretary of state Rex Tillerson urged action on this situation Failing to act now on the most pressing security issue in the world may bring catastrophic consequences he said
