Military Capabilities Of North Korea
North Korea is a small country which is surrounded by large economies of China and Russia. It has a long history of isolation and its economic strength is significantly weaker than many of its neighbors. Despite this, North Korea maintains a military capability that is well-funded and capable of causing destruction.
In terms of personnel, the North Korean military has close to 1 million active-duty personnel. This is one of the largest standing military forces in the world and the country dedicated over 28% of its GDP to defense in 2020. North Korea’s military is also supported by an estimated 5.5 million people who are enlisted in the reserve and paramilitary forces.
The North Korean military is technologically competent and modern for its size. It has a significant selection of ground and air weaponry such as artillery guns, multiple launch rocket systems and ballistic missiles. North Korea acquired ballistic missiles from the Soviet Union and has developed its own missiles such as the Nodong and Hwasong series. These missiles are capable of reaching up to ranges of 4,000 km and can deliver nuclear payloads.
Can North Korea Hit Seattle?
Seattle is a major city located on the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States and is the largest city in the state of Washington. It is located approximately 9,000 km away from North Korea. While North Korea has missiles capable of reaching as far as 4,000 km away, the accuracy of these missiles is questionable and it is uncertain whether they can reach Seattle.
This is because North Korea has not tested any of its missile systems with a range that far away. The furthest North Korea has tested missiles is around 3,000 km away from its borders and the longest-range it has tested is the Hwasong-15, which has a maximum range of 13,000 km. This means that North Korea has not tested its missiles to the level of accuracy it would need to hit Seattle.
Furthermore, the majority of North Korea’s missile tests have been conducted over open ocean, rather than over the land. This means that, in order to hit Seattle, it would need to prove that it can accurately carry out a long-range missile test over the land rather than over open ocean.
North Korean Nuclear Weapons
North Korea also has an arsenal of nuclear weapons, which it acquired from the Soviet Union. It is estimated that the country has between 10 to 25 nuclear weapons.
North Korea also has a high-profile nuclear program which it has developed over the years and has conducted several underground nuclear tests over the years. The most recent test the country conducted was in 2017 which was estimated to be equivalent to the size of 12 versions of the nuclear weapons the United States dropped on Hiroshima during World War II.
The test demonstrated that North Korea has the capability to conduct more powerful nuclear tests and, if the country decided to use its technology for an attack, it could potentially cause significant destruction. However, at this point, it is uncertain whether North Korea has missiles capable of successfully delivering a nuclear payload from North Korea to the United States.
International Responses
The international community has long been wary of North Korea’s military capabilities, particularly its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The United Nations Security Council has passed several resolutions in the past years aimed at preventing North Korea from developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities, but the country has yet to comply with the resolutions.
In response to North Korea’s missile and nuclear tests, the United States, along with Japan and South Korea, has imposed economic sanctions on the country. These sanctions are aimed at preventing the country from importing any technology or materials that could be used in further nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests.
Despite these efforts, North Korea continues to develop its military capabilities, leading to concerns from other nations about the potential for an attack.
US Response to North Korean Missile Tests
The United States has maintained a strong military presence in the Pacific region, particularly in South Korea and Japan, in order to deter any North Korean aggression. The United States also has deployed a number of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System ships in the Pacific, which are capable of detecting and intercepting North Korean missiles.
Most recently, the United States has also deployed antimissile defense systems in South Korea, which are aimed at protecting South Korea in case of a missile attack. The United States has also conducted a number of joint military exercises with South Korea in order to demonstrate its commitment to defending the region against North Korean aggression.
The Threat To Seattle
The threat of a North Korean attack on Seattle is not likely in the near future. As mentioned before, North Korea has yet to test a missile of the range necessary to hit Seattle and there are technical difficulties that would need to be resolved before the country could deploy a nuclear payload to the United States.
Furthermore, the United States has maintained a strong military presence in the region and has deployed a number of antimissile defense systems which could potentially intercept any North Korean missiles that may be launched in the future.
North Korean Leadership And Motivation
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the ruling authorities in North Korea have long been seeking recognition from the international community and have maintained a hostile stance towards United States and its allies in the region.
It is possible that North Korea is using its military capabilities and nuclear weapons as a way to gain international recognition and show its strength to the world. However, North Korea is also well aware of the risks of an armed conflict and its leader is likely to be hesitant to actually launch a nuclear attack on the United States.
North Korean Intentions
Ultimately, the intentions of North Korea are difficult to read. It is possible that the country is seeking recognition from the international community and is using its military capabilities and nuclear weapons as a form of leverage to gain recognition.
However, given the hostile stance of the ruling authorities in North Korea and the country’s long history of isolation, it is also possible that North Korea is looking to use its nuclear capabilities as a way to gain leverage in the region and intimidate its neighbors.
North Korea’s Role In The Region
Whether North Korea ultimately chooses aggression or peace will have an immense impact on the entire region. It is important for the United States and its allies to remain vigilant and to maintain a strong military presence in the region.
It is also important for the international community to have a clear understanding of North Korea’s motivations and intentions. Only by properly assessing the situation can the world ensure that there is no reckless action taken on either side.
