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 “all of our options are on the table” in pursuit of that goal. North Korea has said that a "super mighty pre-emptive strike” is planned if the US uses military force against them. But – our question this week – 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)
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Clips
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A rare glimpse into a North Korean nuclear plant
Duration: 01:46
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'Why North Korea is pitch black at night'
Duration: 01:10
Broadcasts
- Thu 4 May 201701:06GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Thu 4 May 201706:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia, East and Southern Africa & East Asia only
- Thu 4 May 201707:06GMTBBC World Service Europe and the Middle East
- Thu 4 May 201713:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Thu 4 May 201714:06GMTBBC World Service except Australasia & News Internet
- Thu 4 May 201719:06GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Sat 6 May 201723:06GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Mon 8 May 201703:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia
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