Anticipating North Korea’s Next Nuclear Test
Baik Seung Hyuk
This issue brief provides a comprehensive analysis of the anticipated technical and strategic objectives behind North Korea’s potential seventh nuclear test, along with an examination of the probable timing for such an event. Drawing upon recent developments, including North Korea’s pursuit of tactical nuclear weapons and its political aspirations for cementing its nuclear status, the issue brief explores the interplay of domestic and international factors shaping Pyongyang’s decision-making. With insights into North Korea’s evolving nuclear capabilities, the analysis delves into the significance of the upcoming U.S. presidential election as a potential catalyst for nuclear testing and its implications for regional dynamics. Furthermore, the issue brief underscores the imperative for the United States and other stakeholders to adopt a nuanced approach towards negotiations, grounded in the principle of denuclearization, while remaining vigilant against North Korea’s strategic maneuvers to leverage nuclear testing for diplomatic advantage.
Related Publications
-
ISDP Annual Report 2023
ISDP’s Annual Report for the year 2023. We look back on 2023, a year in which tensions and conflicts captured the strategic space in ISDP’s focus areas, making headlines around […]
-
Russia-DPRK Space Cooperation: It’s Politics, Not Science
The recent Vostochny summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin has attracted much international attention. The fact that both leaders pledged to strengthen bilateral […]
-
South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the IPEF: Convergence and Commonality
For some time now, the existing multilateral networks such as those of the United Nations (UN) system have been largely ineffective in providing good global governance and helping create resilience, […]
-
Risk Reduction and Crisis Management on the Korean Peninsula
The situation on the Korean Peninsula is inherently intertwined with the growing instability of the East Asian security environment, where high tensions significantly increase the risk of unintended incidents and armed […]
-
Washington Declaration: Beyond Korea, What it Means for India?
In April 2023, South Korea and the United States released the Washington Declaration to reiterate and upgrade their treaty alliance. In outlining a joint nuclear deterrence strategy, the Declaration reaffirmed […]