Does North Korea have nuclear weapons? Countries with nuclear weapons

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

In the article we will talk about the testing of nuclear weapons in North Korea, as well as other countries that may pose a threat. Let's take a closer look at this issue from all sides, as well as study nuclear tests in Korea and talk about the potential of other countries.

North Korea's nuclear missile program

This is the conditional name of a complex of research works 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 developments are hidden. The authorities assure that all tests are exclusively peaceful in nature and are aimed at studying outer space. In the winter of 2005, North Korea officially declared nuclear weapons and a year later it made its first explosion.

It is known that after the war, the United States regularly threatened North Korea that they could use nuclear weapons. Ruler Kim Il Sung, being under the protection of the USSR, was calm in this regard until he learned that the US planned to drop 7 nuclear charges on Pyongyang during the Korean War. This was a powerful impetus to the fact that Korea began research into nuclear energy. It is considered to be1952 the beginning of the nuclear activities of the DPRK. The country acted jointly with the USSR, which provided considerable assistance. Since the 1970s, the development of nuclear weapons in North Korea has begun. Agreements were signed with China, which allowed researchers to visit their test sites.

In 1985, under strong pressure from the USSR, the DPRK signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

First Trial

In the fall of 2006, the country's authorities announced that the first nuclear test had been successfully carried out. The official statement said that it was an underground test that would serve the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. The study took place at the Pungeri test site, which is located in the north-east of the republic, less than 200 km from the border with Russia. Earthquake caused earthquakes in Japan, USA, Australia, South Korea and Russia.

After that, the question of whether North Korea has nuclear weapons was no longer raised. Chinese authorities were warned 2 hours before the explosion. World powers, including Russia and China, as well as the highest echelons of power in the European Union and NATO, have been critical of nuclear weapons testing. Political leaders openly expressed their displeasure. Because of this, the North Korean army, whose weapons deserve attention, immediately went on alert.

Second test

In the spring of 2009, the second test took place, the power of which was much greater. After the explosion, in 9 languages, Korea's international radio broadcast that their people had come outin support of weapons testing, as there is a regular threat from the United States. Korea, in turn, is simply taking drastic measures to possibly protect its territory.

At the same time, South Korea joined the countries that reacted negatively to this state of affairs. The US government even put forward sanctions against the DPRK. In response, the authorities said that if mass searches were carried out, Korea would take it as the start of a war.

Third test

In the winter of 2013, the republic publicly announced that it intended to conduct another test. In February, researchers from the United States noticed tremors, the localization of which was located approximately in the area of the North Korean nuclear test site. The UN announced the discovery of a strange seismic phenomenon that has signs of an explosion. On the same day, the North Korean authorities announced a successful experiment. On December 12, 2012, North Korean researchers launched a new satellite into orbit, which caused a crisis in the country. Relations between the US, South Korea, Japan and North Korea have become very tense.

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, the South Korean authorities shared information that the DPRK was allegedly preparing to test a hydrogen bomb. The scouts talked aboutthat tritium production has been established in North Korea 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 explosion of a thermonuclear bomb 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 possessed a hydrogen bomb.

Fourth Trial

In the winter of 2016, North Korea again reminded 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 disbelief in these words and doubted that it was the hydrogen bomb that was detonated. They insisted that the explosion should have been more powerful, several hundred thousand million tons. It was equated to what happened in 2009. In terms of power, it was compared with the bomb that exploded in Hiroshima.

Fifth Trial

In the autumn of 2016, a powerful seismic explosion occurred in the country in the morning. The epicenter was located in the village, not far from the Pungeri test site. US geologists have classified seismic tremors as an explosion. A little later, the DPRK officially announced the successful completion of the fifth nuclear test.

Sixth Trial

On September 3, 2017, the most powerful tremors were recorded in North Korea. They were noticed by seismic stations in many countries. This time, scientists agreed that the explosion was ground. It happened in the afternoon at the loc altime in the area of the Pungeri test site. Officially, the Korean authorities announced the successful test of a nuclear warhead. The power of the explosion was incredible and 10 times higher than that which was in the fall of 2016. A few minutes after the first shock, the US Geological Survey recorded another one. Multiple landslides were visible from the satellite.

Countries

When North Korea acquired nuclear weapons, it joined the so-called "Nuclear Club", consisting of states that possess varying amounts of such weapons. List of countries that legally own capacities: France, China, Great Britain, Russia and the USA. The illegitimate owners are Pakistan, India and North Korea.

It should be mentioned 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. In addition, not everyone signed the NPT 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 start with the United States. The basis of its power lies in ballistic missiles on submarines. It is known that at the moment the United States has more than 1,500 warheads. After the Second World War, the production of weapons increased dramatically, but was discontinued in 1997.

Russia

SoThe list of countries with nuclear weapons is continued by the Russian Federation, which owns 1,480 warheads. It also has ammunition that can be used in naval, strategic, missile and aviation forces.

During the last decade, the number of weapons in Russia has significantly decreased due to the signing of a treaty on mutual disarmament. The Russian Federation, like the United States, signed the 1968 treaty, so it is on the list of countries that legitimately own nuclear weapons. At the same time, the presence of such a threat allows Russia to adequately defend its political and economic interests.

France

How strong the North Korean army, we already understood, but what about the 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 purposes. The stockpile of this country's weapons seems negligible compared to the volumes of the United States and Russia, but this is also significant. France fought for independence for a very long time 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 stopped.

UK

This country owns approximately 255 nuclear weapons, of which more than 150 are fully operational for use by submarines. Inaccuracies in the number of weapons in the UK are caused bythe fact that the principles of policy prohibit the posting of detailed information on the quality of weapons. The country is not trying to increase its nuclear potential, but in no case is it going to lower it. There is an active policy of deterring the use of lethal weapons.

China, India, Pakistan

We'll talk about how many nuclear weapons North Korea has later, but for now let's focus on China, which has about 240 nuclear weapons. According to unofficial data, it is believed that there are about 40 intercontinental missiles and about 1,000 short-range missiles in the country. The government does not give any exact data on the number of weapons, assuring that they will be kept at a minimum level to guarantee security.

The Chinese authorities also claim that they will never be the first to use weapons of this type, and if they have to be used, they will not be directed at countries that do not have nuclear weapons. Needless to say, the world community reacts very positively to such statements.

We have already considered the nuclear weapons of North Korea, but what about the account of such a multifaceted country as India? Experts believe that it refers to states that possess lethal weapons illegitimately. It is believed that the military stock consists of thermonuclear and nuclear warheads. There are also ballistic missiles, short and medium range missiles. Despite the fact that the country owns nuclear weapons, this is not discussed or provided in any way on the world stage.no information, which upsets the global community.

In Pakistan, according to experts, there are about 200 warheads. However, this is only unofficial data, since there is no exact 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, as it was connected with it by agreements on the supply of oil.

North Korea's army, which is clearly sufficient, is still the main global threat. The government does not want to provide any approximate information on the number 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 declares that it has them in the country, economic sanctions are regularly imposed on it. The six-party talks between the countries have been underway for a long time, but despite all this, Korea is not going to stop its research.

As for the mentioned negotiations, they began in 2003. The participants were the USA, 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 North Korea's relations with America and Japan.

At all stages of the negotiations it is about the same thing - for the country to curtail its nuclear program and destroy the created weapons. The US offered Koreaeconomic benefits and a full guarantee that there will be no more aggression and threats from their side. However, when all participating countries demanded that the DPRK completely curtail all its activities, and even under the control of the IAEA, Korea strongly 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 most favorable terms for Korea. However, by this time the United States and Japan were no longer enough to freeze, they wanted a complete cessation of the nuclear program. Naturally, the DPRK did not accept such conditions.

Later, the US managed to agree with Korea on a temporary freeze of all tests for a good reward. However, after that, 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 similar situations occur: as soon as the DPRK makes concessions, even more is demanded of it. Korea, in turn, under no pretext agrees to curtail its nuclear missile program.