Nuclear strategy of the DPRK and readiness to the NW use

Abstract

Active efforts by both countries on the Korean Peninsula to build up military capabilities over recent years have increased the conflict potential of Northeast Asia and raised the possibility of conflict, including one involving
nuclear weapons use. In connection with the nuclear status and perception of the DPRK in the expert community, especially in the West, it is customary to speculate about the outbreak of the conflict on its initiative. However, the intentions of the DPRK leadership and readiness to use nuclear weapons should be assessed not on the basis of official rhetoric, which is part of propaganda and information warfare, but on the basis of nuclear strategy. The present article attempts to identify the real nuclear strategy of the DPRK based on the analysis of its nuclear doctrine and trends in the development of the nuclear and missile program.