Nuclear Weapons [of North Korea]

Category: Weapons of Mass Destruction

The latest missile test was on Oct. 9, 2006: taepodong-2. (Taepodong-2, with an expected range of 5,000-6,000 km, could reach western parts of Continental United States, though with low accuracy.) However, US Intelligence estimates that the weapon will not be used for another 11 years.

In 1993, Nodong-1 missile was first tested on May 29-30 in the Sea of Japan. The range was 1,000 km. The initial purpose of testing the missile for export to Iran, in exchange for oil. They reaffirmed its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Taepodong-1, launched in August 31, 1998, has a range of 2,000 km, but it's not yet in full deployment. It has been claimed that it carried a satellite called Kwangmyongsong. The purpose of this launch was a show of power in advance of the 50th anniversary if the founding of the Stalinist party.

-Debbie & Jenny