North Korea’s Nuclear Tests and Missile Provocations

This year saw North Korea conduct one nuclear test and 15 ballistic missile launches, leading the international community to strengthen sanctions against Pyongyang.

In his 2017 New Year Address, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un claimed that his country had "entered the final stage of preparation for the test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM),” hinting at the possibility of provocations from early on in the year.

North Korea test-launched a ballistic missile on February 12th, demonstrating that Kim was not bluffing. It then continued to engage in provocations and launched its first ICBM-grade Hwasong-14 missile on July fourth, following the launch of the Moon Jae-in administration.



On September third, North Korea conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test at its test site in Punggye-ri in Gilju County, North Hamgyong Province. On November 29th, it test-launched another ICBM-grade Hwasong-15 missile. The projectile traveled 960 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 45-hundred kilometers, leading observers to believe that the missile’s maximum range could reach 13-thousand kilometers.

With that launch, Pyongyang declared that its nuclear force had been completed.

In response to the launch of the Hwasong-14, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2371 and in response to the North’s sixth nuclear test, it adopted Resolution 2375 which called for tougher sanctions on the reclusive state.

The United States unveiled a new national security strategy on December 18th and in it placed top priority on resolving North Korea’s nuclear issue.

Photo : Yonhap News, KBS News

1. Launch of Moon Jae-in Gov’t

2. Park Geun-hye’s Impeachment and Trial

3. North Korea’s Nuclear Tests and Missile Provocations

4. China’s Retaliation to THAAD... Seoul, China Put Differences Behind

5. Launch of Trump Administration & S. Korea-U.S. Ties

6. S. Korea’s Economy Posts 3% Growth… Trade Volume Tops $1 Tln

7. KOSPI Ushers in 2,500 Era

8. Lessons from Pohang Quake

9. S. Korea Aims to Become a Nation Strong in Sport with the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games

10. The 4th Industrial Revolution Lands on Korean Peninsula