North Korea
Country Spotlight
The world’s newest nuclear weapon possessing state, North Korea withdrew from the NPT in 2003 and conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. It has developed sophisticated nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles despite international condemnation, and diplomatic efforts to denuclearize the country have thus far been unsuccessful.
See North Korea's performance in
Region East Asia and the Pacific
~35-65 Current nuclear warhead stockpile estimates
6 Nuclear tests conducted, most recently in 2017
15,000 Kilometers estimated maximum range of Hwasong-18 ICBM
~56-70 Kilograms estimated plutonium inventory
Nuclear
- Tested likely thermonuclear device in 2017
- Agreed to a moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile testing in 2018; resumed long-range missile tests in 2020
- Produces enriched uranium and weapons-grade plutonium
Nuclear Disarmament North Korea
Biological
- Assessments of capabilities and intent are speculative and vary widely
- Accused by U.S. and South Korea of pursuing biological weapons despite treaty commitments
- Presumed capability to produce anthrax, smallpox and plague
North Korea Biological Overview
North Korea Biological Facilities
Missile
- Variety of land-based ballistic and cruise missiles; recent tests of ICBMs and short- and medium-range, solid-fueled missiles
- Tested first ICBM, the Hwasong-15, on 24 March 2017
- Exporter of ballistic missile technology to countries such as Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Syria
North Korea Missile Facilities
The CNS North Korea Missile Test Database
Chemical
- Denies chemical weapons possession, but refuses to accede to Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
- South Korea estimates North Korea's stockpile at 2,500 – 5,000 tons of chemical weapons agents
- Weapons program has concentrated on acquiring mustard, phosgene, sarin, and VX
North Korea Chemical Facilities
Tutorial on Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation
Treaties and Regimes Memberships
Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility
- Location Punggye-ri (풍계리), Gilju-gun (길주군), North Hamgyeong Province (함경북도), North Korea
- Type Nuclear-Test Site
- Facility Status Partially Dismantled, but Resumed Construction
Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground
- Location Musudan-ri (무수단리), Hwadae-kun (화대군), North Hamgyong Province (함경북도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Base
- Facility Status Operational; second launch pad under construction
Sohae Satellite Launching Station
- Location Dongchang-dong (동창동), Cheolsan-gun (철산군), Pyonganbuk-do (평안북도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Base
- Facility Status Operational
Kim Il Sung University
- Location Ryongnam-dong (룡남동), Daesong-kuyok (대성구역), Pyongyang (평양시), North Korea
- Type Nuclear-Research and Development
- Facility Status Operational
Hamheung University of Chemical Industry
- Location Segori-dong (세거리동), Hamhung (함흥시), Hamgyongnam-do (함경남도), North Korea
- Type Chemical-Research and Development
- Facility Status Operational
Kumcheon Scud Missile Base
- Location Kŭmch'ŏn-ri (금천리), Anbyŏn-kun (안변군), Kangwŏn Province (강원도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Base
Sangnam-ri Missile Base
- Location Sangnam-ri (상남리), Hŏch'ŏn-kun (호천군), South Hamgyŏng Province (함경남도), North KoreaPrimary Function: Deployment and launch of missiles, possibly Nodong and/or TaepodongSubordinate to: Missile Division (미사일 사단), Ministry of the People's Armed Forces (인민무력성), National Defense Commission (국방위원회)
- Type Missile-Base
- Facility Status Unknown
Yŏngjŏ-ri Missile Base
- Location Between Kungmangbong (국망봉) and Mujungbong (무중봉), Yŏngjŏ-ri (영저리), Kimhyŏngjik-kun (김형직군), Yanggang Province (양강도), North Korea, about 20km from the Chinese border [Note: “Yŏngjŏ-ri” is often misidentified as “Yŏngjŏ-dong (영저동)” but the actual administrative unit is a “ri (리).”]
- Type Missile-Base
Yongdeok-dong High-Explosive Test Site
- Location Yongdeok-dong (용덕동), Guseong (구성), North Pyeongan Province (평안북도), North Korea*
- Type Nuclear-Weaponization
- Facility Status Operational
Yongbyon High-Explosive Test Site
- Location Near the banks of the Kuryong River (구룡강), Bungang-jigu (분강지구), Yongbyon-gun (영변군), North Pyeongan Province (평안북도), North Korea
- Type Nuclear-Weaponization
- Facility Status Probably unused since the 1990s
MGC-20 Cyclotron
- Location Sosan-dong (서산동), Sosong-guyok (서성구역), Pyongyang (평양시), Pyongyang, North Korea*
- Type Nuclear-Research and Development
- Facility Status Unknown
Taecheon 200MWe Nuclear Reactor
- Location Taecheon-gun (태천군), Pyeonganbuk-do (평안북도), North Korea
- Type Nuclear-Power Reactor
- Facility Status unfinished, abandoned
Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center
- Location Pungang-jigu (분강지구), Yongbyon-gun (영변군), Pyonganbuk-do (평안북도), North Korea*
- Type Nuclear-Reprocessing
- Facility Status Operational
Hagap Underground Suspected Nuclear Facility
- Location Area around Gaphyundong (갑현동), Huicheon (희천시), Jagang Province (자강도), North Korea. Note: Hagap (하갑), Nammyeon (남면), Huicheon-gun (희천군), North Pyeongan Province is an old administrative name for Gaphyeondong. In 1949, Huicheon-gun became part of Jagang Province, which was formed from part of North Pyeongan Province. Huicheon is now a city.
- Type Nuclear-Enrichment
- Facility Status Unknown
Geumchang-ri Underground Facility
- Location Geumchang-ri (금창리), Taegwan-gun (대관군), North Pyeongan Province (평안북도), North Korea
- Type Nuclear-Storage
- Facility Status Unknown
Geumho-Jigu Light Water Reactor Site
- Location Geumho-Jigu (금호지구), Sinpo (신포시), Hamgyeongnam-do (함경남도), North Korea
- Type Nuclear-Power Reactor
- Facility Status Unfinished, construction stopped
Atomic Energy Research Institute
- Location Bungang-jigu (분강지구), Yongbyon-gun (영변군), Pyonganbuk-do (평안북도), North Korea
- Type Nuclear-Research and Development
- Facility Status Operational
Pakch’ŏn Uranium Mine
- Location P'akch'ŏn-kun (박천군), North P'yŏng'an Province (평안북도), North Korea
- Type Nuclear-Exploration and Mining
- Facility Status Unknown
P’yŏngsan Uranium Milling Facility
- Location P'yŏnghwa-ri (평화리), P'yŏngsan-kun (평산군), North Hwanghae Province (황해북도), North Korea
- Type Nuclear-Milling
- Facility Status Unknown
No. Seven Factory
- Location Yongsŏng-kuyŏk (용성구역), Pyongyang (평양시), North Korea, about "a 20-30 minute bus ride from the Man'gyŏngdae Electric Machinery Factory"
- Type Missile-Research and Development
Chiha-ri Missile Base
- Location Chiha-ri (지하리), P'an'gyo-kun (판교군), Kangwŏn Province (강원도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Base
- Facility Status Active
January 18th Machine Factory
- Location Kag'am-dong (각암동), Kaech'ŏn (개천시), South P'yŏng'an Province (평안남도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Production
- Facility Status Unknown
Kusŏng Machine Tool Factory
- Location Kusŏng (구성시), North P'yŏng'an Province (평안북도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Production
Pyongyang Semiconductor Factory
- Location Taedonggang-dong (대동강동), Taedonggang-kuyŏk (대동강구역), Pyongyang
- Type Missile-Production
Pukchung Machine Complex
- Location Pukchung-nodongjagu (북중노동자구), Yongch'ŏn-kun (용천군), North Pyŏng'an Province (평안북도)
- Type Missile-Production
Sŭngni Automobile Factory
- Location Tŏkch'ŏn (덕천군), South P'yŏng'an Province (평안남도)
- Type Missile-Production
No. 26 Factory
- Location Konggwi-dong (공귀동), Kanggye (강계시), Chagang Province (자강도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Production
- Facility Status Unknown
Okp’yŏng-dong Missile Base
- Location Okp'yŏng-dong (옥평동), Munch'ŏn (문천시), Kangwŏn Province (강원도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Base
- Facility Status Unknown
Sakkabbong Missile Base
- Location Sakkabbong (삿갓봉), Koksan-kun (곡산군), North Hwanghae Province (황해북도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Base
- Facility Status Unknown
Shin’o-ri Missile Base
- Location Shin'o-ri (신오리), Unjŏn-kun (운전군), North P'yŏng'an Province (평안북도), North KoreaPrimary Function: Deployment and launch of Nodong missiles
- Type Missile-Base
- Facility Status Unknown
Yongnim-ŭp Missile Base
- Location Yongnim-ŭp (용림읍), Yongnim-kun (용림군), Chagang Province (자강도), North Korea
- Type Missile-Base
- Facility Status Unknown
No. 125 Factory
- Location Northwestern part of Pyongyang. There are conflicting reports on the location of this facility. Some reports place the factory in Chung'i-dong (중이동), Yongsŏng-kuyŏk (용성구역), Pyongyang, and others place it in Hyŏngjesan-kuyŏk (형제산구역), Pyongyang. Yongsŏng-kuyŏk and Hyŏngjesan-kuyŏk are adjacent to each other, and Chung'i-dong is right next to Hyŏngjesan-kuyŏk, which could be the cause for confusion. The South Korean Ministry of Unification reports that the factory is in "Chunggye-dong" (중계동), Hyŏngjesan-kuyŏk, Pyongyang, but apparently there is no "Chunggye-dong" in Hyŏngjesan-kuyŏk. There is a "Ch'ŏnggye-dong," which is nearby, but in Yongsŏng-kuyŏk.
- Type Missile-Production
- Facility Status Unknown
- NTI
- CNS
North KoreaAtomic Energy Research Institute
- Nuclear
Chiha-ri Missile Base
- Missile
Geumchang-ri Underground Facility
- Nuclear
Geumho-Jigu Light Water Reactor Site
- Nuclear
Hagap Underground Suspected Nuclear Facility
- Nuclear
Hamheung University of Chemical Industry
- Chemical
January 18th Machine Factory
- Missile
Kim Il Sung University
- Nuclear
Kum Song Tractor Factory
- Missile
Kumcheon Scud Missile Base
- Missile
Kusŏng Machine Tool Factory
- Missile
MGC-20 Cyclotron
- Nuclear
No. 125 Factory
- Missile
No. 26 Factory
- Missile
No. Seven Factory
- Missile
Okp’yŏng-dong Missile Base
- Missile
P’yŏngsan Uranium Milling Facility
- Nuclear
Pakch’ŏn Uranium Mine
- Nuclear
Pukchung Machine Complex
- Missile
Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility
- Nuclear
Pyongyang Semiconductor Factory
- Missile
Sakkabbong Missile Base
- Missile
Sangnam-ri Missile Base
- Missile
Shin’o-ri Missile Base
- Missile
Sohae Satellite Launching Station
- Missile
Sŭngni Automobile Factory
- Missile
Taecheon 200MWe Nuclear Reactor
- Nuclear
Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground
- Missile
Yongbyon High-Explosive Test Site
- Nuclear
Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center
- Nuclear
Yongdeok-dong High-Explosive Test Site
- Nuclear
Yŏngjŏ-ri Missile Base
- Missile
Yongnim-ŭp Missile Base
- Missile
Analysis
North Korea
Does Kim Jong Un’s Phone Give a Window into North Korean Command-and-Control?
Kim Jong Un may use his smartphone for nuclear command-and-control, increasing the risk of accidental nuclear war between the US and North Korea. (CNS)
New Analysis and Interactives Uncover the Story of North Korea’s Missile Test
North Korea Submarine Capabilities
Education Center