News Highlight
North Korea has passed a law enshrining the right to “automatically” use preemptive nuclear strikes to protect itself.
Key Takeaway
- The law specifically states the North can use nuclear weapons “in the case of a nuclear or non-nuclear attack by hostile forces on the state leadership and the command organization of the state’s nuclear forces”.
The developments in Pyongyang’s nuclear program
- In the 1960s, North Korea started its initial research on the development of plutonium nuclear weapons.
- During the 20th century:
- In 1994, Pyongyang barred the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to the Yongbyon complex.
- A peace deal called the 1994 Agreed Framework was signed by President Bill Clinton, requiring Pyongyang to freeze all nuclear activity and allow inspection of its military sites in return for the construction of two light water reactors.
- But the accord broke down in 2002.
- During the tenure of President George W. Bush:
- North Korea unilaterally withdrew from the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) in 2003.
- It is not a party to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Chemical Weapons Convention.
- In order to enforce its denuclearisation commitment, Pyongyang blew up the cooling tower at the Yongbyon complex in 2008.
- Later it barred IAEA inspectors from access to its reprocessing plant in the Yongbyon complex,as like 1994.
- During the tenure of President Donald Trump:
- In 2017, North Korea successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and conducted a thermonuclear weapon test.
- In 2019, North Korea offered to fully dismantle in exchange for securing complete relief from international economic sanctions.
- North Korea resumed its short-range ballistic missile tests after the bilateral talks stalled.
- During the tenure of President Joe Biden:
- The Biden administration has declared its readiness to resume negotiations with Pyongyang.
- But Mr.Kim has overturned the offers until sanctions are removed.
- Yongbyon complex resumed its operation to generate plutonium and highly enriched uranium for the development of atomic bombs.
- Also, North Korea test-fired its first strategic cruise missile with possible nuclear capability recently.
North Korea
- It is a country in East Asia.
- It occupies the northern portion of the Korean peninsula.
- Capital-Pyongyang.
- Land border:
- China and Russia-North
- Republic of Korea-South
- Maritime border:
- Sea of Japan (East Sea)-East.
- Yellow Sea-West.
Content Source: The Hindu