What’s in North Korea’s Military Arsenal?

The World

North Korea is continuing its warlike rhetoric.

It seems Pyongyang is getting ready to test a medium-range missile, perhaps to coincide with the scheduled April 15th holiday there to celebrate the nation’s founder, the grandfather of current leader, Kim Jong-un.

Joel Wit, a former US negotiator with North Korea, says North Korea is working on a missile that could reach the United States, but they’re not there yet.

“They could hit Guam, Japan and South Korea,” he says.

“But look, we’re only talking about a test, “Wit says. “There’s no reason for them to do anything else.”

North Korea probably has enough plutonium for eight nuclear devices, says Wit.

Experts disagree, he says, whether Pyongyang can mount these nuclear weapons on missiles.

Wit expects Kim to “declare victory” after the end of joint US-South Korean military exercises, which continue to the end of the month. Then tensions will probably calm down, Wit argues.

Are you with The World?

The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.