The North Korean Nuclear Crisis in 2017: New Challenges and Risks

Abstract

North Korea’s hydrogen bomb test and ICBM tests in 2017 incurred a new crisis. Given that North Korea is unlikely to give up its nuclear weapons and a military option against it may be unworkable, deterrence becomes a realistic recourse to cope with the crisis. The most challenging issues are the North’s pursuit of more missile technologies and unknown aspects of nuclear command and control in Pyongyang.