Showdown with North Korea looms

The U.S. is sending a third carrier strike group – led by the USS Nimitz – to join the Carl Vinson and Ronald Reagan strike groups near North Korea to pressure Pyongyang to refrain from more missile tests


Punggye-ri: Nuclear test site

CHINA

NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang

Seoul

SOUTH KOREA

200km 125 miles

Sea of Japan (East Sea)



Dec 28, 2011
Kim Jong-un takes power

2011 12 13 14 15 16 17
2
6
19
15
24
12


North Korea missile tests (2012-17)

May 29 KN-17

May 21 KN-15 / Pukguksong-2

May 14 Hwasong-12

Apr 29 Unidentified

Apr 16 KN-17

Apr 4 KN-17

Mar 22 Unidentified

Mar 6 KN-17 – four missiles fired

Feb 12 KN-15 / Pukguksong-2



Hwasong-12: Liquid-fuelled rocket. Could be part of larger, multi-stage intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), such as KN-08 prototype, capable of reaching U.S. mainland

KN-17 / Hwasong-7
Possible anti-ship missile with range estimated at 1,000 km

KN-15 / Pukguksong-2
Land-based version of solid-fuel KN-11 – submarine-launched medium-range missile – capable of reaching U.S. bases in Japan


Sources: Stratfor, 38 North, Center for Strategic and International Studies 

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