Recent nuclear threats

The 2017-2018 North Korean crisis

The crisis began in 2017 when North Korea conducted missile and nuclear tests that demonstrated the country’s ability to launch long-range ballistic missiles. This also suggested that North Korea had the capacity to build a strong nuclear arsenal faster than anticipated by the US.

Tensions rose as North Korea sent an open letter to several nations, describing itself as a nuclear power and threatening with the possibility of nuclear warfare if the US tried to attack North Korea. This was also a reaction to several of US President Donald Trump’s remarks towards North Korean leader Kim-Jong-un, which were interpreted by the leader as offensive and threatening.

However, by 2018, North Korea improved its diplomatic relations with South Korea, which led to a halt of nuclear and missile tests in North Korea and later culminated with the signing of the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace. In the declaration, the leaders of North and South Korea promise to work together on ending the Korean conflict and commit t...