North Korea crisis in 300 words
8 January 2018
The North Korean stand-off is a crisis that, at worst, threatens nuclear war, but it's complicated. Let's take a step back.
Why does North Korea want nuclear weapons?
The Korean peninsula was divided after World War Two and the communist North developed into a Stalinesque dictatorship.
Almost entirely isolated on the global stage, its leaders say nuclear capabilities are its only deterrent against an outside world seeking to destroy it.
How close are they?
North Korea has claimed it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb - many times more powerful than an atomic bomb - that can be miniaturised and loaded on a long-range missile.
Although analysts treat such claims with caution, leaked information suggests US intelligence believes North Korea is capable of miniaturisation.
Pyongyang views the US as its main adversary and has fired a missile that experts say could reach the US itself. It also has rockets aimed at South Korea and Japan, where thousands of US troops are based.
What has been done to stop them?
Attempts to negotiate aid-for-disarmament deals have repeatedly failed, and throughout 2017 Kim Jong-Un ordered a series of incendiary ballistic missile tests.
In response the UN has implemented increasingly tough sanctions. Even China, the North's only real ally, has added to the economic and diplomatic pressure.
Is it for real this time?
In 2017, North Korea grew increasingly provocative, threatening the US Pacific territory of Guam and Japan.
Publicly trading insults with Mr Kim, Donald Trump said the US was ready to respond militarily if it was forced to defend itself or its allies.
In January 2018 though, Pyongyang embarked on direct talks with Seoul.
The aim was to find a way for North Korea to attend the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February, one small hint of co-mutual operation for peace.
Want to know more?
Korea talks: Finally, a bit of optimism
What are North Korea's other WMDs?
What missiles does North Korea have?
How advanced is North Korea's nuclear programme?
Does latest nuclear test mean war?
What North Korea missile tests achieved
Hydrogen bomb 'missile-ready'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40871848
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