Policy Brief - Foundation for Defense of Democracies

North Korea’s 5th Nuclear Test – What now?

| Friday, September 16, 2016

North Korea just heralded the 68th anniversary of its founding by conducting its fifth nuclear test. The initial seismic recordings were larger than previously recorded activity. This, coupled with other indicators, suggests that Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons capability is accelerating.

This year alone, North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests, and a number of ballistic missile launches. U.S. concerns are mounting over Pyongyang’s simultaneous missile launchings, its use of mobile missile launchers, its emerging submarine launching capabilities, and its on-going production of plutonium and enriched uranium. North Korea has even claimed that it has successfully miniaturized nuclear warheads.

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For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Heinonen, Olli. “North Korea’s 5th Nuclear Test – What now?.” Policy Brief, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Friday, September 16, 2016.

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