South Korea

North Korea’s nuclear weapons: The bigger picture

NATO heads of states discussed the multitude of threats at their summit in Wales earlier this month. The debate was predictably dominated by the Russian – Ukrainian crisis, though delegates also discussed how best to strengthen Afghan National Security Forces. Buried within the summit declaration was the condemnation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) for carrying out nuclear weapon and ballistic missile tests.

Table layout of Six Party Talks.svg

Going back to the Six-Party Talks, is there any hope?

North Korea’s nuclear weapons program has given rise to much debate on the security challenges that it brings to the international system. Its deployment of ballistic missiles and testing of nuclear devices (2006, 2009, and 2013) have alarmed states around the world, and posed dangers and threats to the region. In fact, recent activity at North Korea’s nuclear facility has given rise to new concerns about the possibility of a fourth nuclear test. 

Country Report: North Korea

North Korea withdrew from the NPT to became a nuclear weapon state in 2006. BASIC monitors North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile capability developments and multilateral political talks regarding the country's nuclear program in its Getting to Zero updates. Read the GTZ update summaries in reverse chronological order below.