Main content

How did North Korea get the bomb?

Exploring how a poor and isolated country has acquired nuclear weapons.

Tensions between the US and North Korea are running high. Kim Jong-Un has been testing long-range missiles and nuclear weapons. The Trump administration wants Pyongyang to end its nuclear weapons programmes and has said 鈥渁ll of our options are on the table鈥 in pursuit of that goal. North Korea has said that a "super mighty pre-emptive strike鈥 is planned if the US uses military force against them. But 鈥 our question this week 鈥 how did this poor and isolated country develop nuclear weapons in the first place?

Presenter: Ruth Alexander

Producers: Kate Lamble, Phoebe Keane and Estelle Doyle

(Photo: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets scientists and technicians in the field of researches into nuclear weapons. Credit: Reuters)

Available now

23 minutes

Last on

Mon 8 May 2017 03:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 4 May 2017 01:06GMT
  • Thu 4 May 2017 06:06GMT
  • Thu 4 May 2017 07:06GMT
  • Thu 4 May 2017 13:06GMT
  • Thu 4 May 2017 14:06GMT
  • Thu 4 May 2017 19:06GMT
  • Sat 6 May 2017 23:06GMT
  • Mon 8 May 2017 03:06GMT

Featured in...

Podcast