RS21473
North Korean Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States
October 18, 2006
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Summary
This report updates recent information concerning, specifically, North Korea's long-range ballistic missile program. On July 4-5, 2006, North Korea test-launched seven ballistic missiles, including a new Taepo Dong 2 that failed soon after launch. Apparently successful shorter-range missile tests included some combination of SCUDs and No Dongs. More recently, North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test and said it would deploy nuclear weapons on their ballistic missiles, although there is no evidence they are doing so. This report will be updated as events warrant. Additional information is provided by CRS Report RL30427, Missile Survey: Ballistic and Cruise Missiles of Foreign Countries and CRS Report RL30699, Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons and Missiles: Status and Trends, both by Andrew Feickert, and CRS Report RL33590, North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Program, by Larry A. Niksch.
