North Korea’s Military Capabilities
North Korea has embarked on an accelerated buildup of weapons of mass destruction and modernization of its already large conventional force.
Backgrounder by Eleanor Albert
June 20, 2017
The United States and its Asian allies regard North Korea as a grave security threat. It has one of the world’s largest conventional military forces, which, combined with its escalating missile and nuclear tests and aggressive rhetoric, has aroused concern worldwide. But world powers have been ineffective in slowing its path to acquire nuclear weapons. The North’s leader, Kim Jong-un, sees the nuclear program as the means to sustain his regime. While it remains among the poorest countries in the world, North Korea spends nearly a quarter of its GDP on its military, according to U.S. State Department estimates. Its brinkmanship will continue to test regional and international partnerships aimed at preserving stability and security.
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/north-koreas-military-capabilities
