What Is North Korea's Nuclear Strategy?

North Korea’s Nuclear War Plan: “Go Nuts” and ‘Dig in” -- James R. Holmes, The Diplomat

Because no survey of newcomers to the second nuclear age would be complete without North Korea, it seems fitting to close out this series with a glance at Pyongyang’s emerging nuclear strategy and doctrine. Professor Terry Roehrig, grand wizard of the Naval War College’s Asia-Pacific Study Group, authors a chapter on the subject in Strategy in the Second Nuclear Age. He splashes cold water on the idea that the six-party talks or other negotiations will bring about disarmament on the Korean Peninsula. So, let’s zero in on the operational dimension of North Korean strategy.

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More News On North Korea's Nuclear Program

N.Korea prepares for third nuclear test: S.Korea -- AFP
Exclusive: North Korea's nuclear test ready "soon" -- Reuters
North Korea May Be Expanding Their Nuclear Arsenal More Than Anyone Imagined -- Business Insider
Imagery shows damage, repairs at North Korean nuclear test site -- Janes
Images Reveal North Korea Repairing Atomic Test Site Tunnel -- Global Security Newswire
Denuclearizing NK 'perhaps impossible': ex-US envoy -- Korea Times

My Comment: The Chinese are skeptical that North Korea will conduct a third nuclear test.

Report: North Korth Korea Will Have Enough Nuclear Material For 48 Nuclear Weapons By 2015

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un smiles in a wooden boat on Friday on his way to the military unit that shelled Yeonpyeong Island in November 2010. /[North] Korean Central News Agency

North Korea Could Have Fuel For 48 Nuclear Weapons By 2015 -- The Telegraph

North Korea will have been able to build as many as 48 nuclear weapons by 2015 unless the international community is able to make sanctions already imposed on the regime work.

The stark warning about Pyongyang's nuclear stockpile was issued by The Institute for Science and International Security, which projected three scenarios for North Korea's atomic weapons programme.

In the best-case scenario for the next four years outlined by the researchers, North Korea will have been able to use the centrifuges at its Yongbyon nuclear plant to produce sufficient low enriched uranium for a maximum of 25 nuclear weapons.

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Update #1: South Korea, US launch annual military drills condemned by North Korea -- Washington Post/AP
Update #2: Kim warns troops to prepare for 'sacred war' during US-South Korea exercises -- CNN

My Comment: It only takes one nuclear weapon exploding somewhere to ruin everyone's day.