Introduction
North Korea is surrounded by several geopolitical superpowers and is known for its nuclear weapons and missile development programs. Since the time of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, North Korea has accelerated its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, sparking serious concerns in the international community. Given the security concerns stemming from the presence of North Korean nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, a critical question emerges: is it possible for North Korea to hit the United States mainland with a nuclear weapon?
North Korean Nuclear Developments
Recent developments in North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs suggest that the country is becoming more of a threat to the United States and other countries. North Korea has conducted several underground nuclear tests, and its ballistic missile program is advanced enough for them to launch ballistic missiles with a range of up to 3,000 km, which puts the United States mainland and many other countries within striking range.
What makes North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs particularly worrisome is the fact that they are becoming increasingly more reliable. The improvement of these programs has been rapid since the beginning of Kim Jong-un’s reign. This, coupled with the fact that North Korea is known to be developing new and more powerful weapons, has led to increased calls for the international community to take action against North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile developments.
North Korea’s Ability to Hit US Mainland
The primary question regarding North Korea’s nuclear capabilities is whether or not they have the ability to hit the United States mainland with a ballistic missile. While it is difficult to definitively answer this question, there is evidence to suggest that North Korea does have this capability.
North Korea has already demonstrated an ability to launch ballistic missiles with a range of around 3,000 km, which is enough to reach the United States mainland. North Korea has also developed a number of different payloads for their ballistic missiles, such as nuclear warheads. This indicates that North Korea possibly has the capability to launch a nuclear-armed ballistic missile at the United States mainland.
Reactions of US and its Allies to North Korea’s Threat
Given the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the United States and its allies have taken significant steps to deter North Korea’s nuclear activities. The United States and its allies have imposed economic sanctions on North Korea, and the United States has also deployed significant amounts of missile defense systems in the region, such as the THAAD and Patriot systems.
The international community has also increased its diplomatic efforts with North Korea, with the goal of bringing North Korea back to the negotiating table to discuss the denuclearization of Korean peninsula. The most recent example of this was the United States’ participation in the 2018-2019 U.S.-North Korea Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. Despite the summit ending without an agreement, the United States government has welcomed North Korea’s recent offer to resume talks.
International Sanctions on North Korea
In response to North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the international community has imposed a number of economic sanctions on the country. These sanctions are designed to economically isolate North Korea, and penalize the country for its nuclear activities.
The most significant of these sanctions was the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270, which was passed unanimously by the UN Security Council in 2016. This resolution prohibited all member countries from importing or exporting any materials or products related to North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. In addition, the resolution also banned all travel to North Korea by UN member countries, as well as banned UN member countries from any activities that would help North Korea develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Growing Nuclear Threat of North Korea
Despite the international efforts to contain North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the country has continued to advance its weapons programs. North Korea is believed to have as many as 60 nuclear weapons, as well as a growing stockpile of ballistic missiles. North Korea has also continued its testing of ballistic missiles, suggesting that the advancements in their nuclear and missile programs have not been slowed down by sanctions.
The continued rise of North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs has been a cause for concern for many in the international community. North Korea’s development of these weapons has been seen as a direct threat to the security of the United States and its allies in the region, as well as a challenge to the ability of the international community to enforce non-proliferation agreements.
Consequences of North Korea Using Nuclear Weapons
Given the fact that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons, and the possibility that they could be used in a conflict, it is important to consider the potential consequences of such an event.
Experts have suggested that the consequences of a nuclear weapon being used by North Korea would be devastating. The use of nuclear weapons would bring about immense suffering and destruction, as well as leading to long-lasting environmental contamination. In addition, the use of nuclear weapons would be a breach of international law and would likely have serious repercussions for North Korea and the international community.
Conclusion
North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs have been a source of worry for many of the world’s countries. While it is difficult to definitively answer the question of whether or not North Korea has the capability to hit the United States mainland with a nuclear weapon, the fact remains that North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs are advanced, and that they are continuing to develop new weapons. In response to the threat posed by these weapons the international community has begun to increase its diplomatic efforts with North Korea and impose economic sanctions, though these efforts have not been effective in slowing down North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. As such, the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear capabilities remains a major concern.
