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Military capability

North Korea’s military in 2026

A huge share of a tiny economy goes to the military, and since 2017 that has bought a real nuclear arsenal. All numbers are public estimates, and the sources often disagree.

~60nuclear warheadsSIPRI, Jan 2026
~90warheads’ worth of fissile materialSIPRI, Jan 2026
1.28Mactive-duty troopsIISS Military Balance
20,000+troops sent to Russia since 2024South Korean & Ukrainian intel

Nuclear weapons

Six tests between 2006 and 2017, all at Punggye-ri. Plutonium comes from the Yongbyon reactors, enriched uranium from Yongbyon and the covert Kangson site. Since 2023 nuclear status is written into the constitution, and Kim Jong Un has called for "exponential" growth.

~60 assembled warheads material for ~30 more
  1. 2006Oct 9First test
  2. 2009May 25
  3. 2013Feb 12
  4. 2016Jan 6Claimed H-bomb
  5. 2016Sep 9
  6. 2017Sep 3Likely thermonuclear

What the seismometers recorded

Seismometers around the world pick up every nuclear test. The US Geological Survey (USGS) lists 6 events at Punggye-ri as "nuclear explosion", including the first three tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. The labels below are USGS's own; the distance from the test site is worked out from its coordinates. Magnitude is logarithmic: each step of 1 means about 32 times more energy, so the 6.3 test in 2017 released roughly 1,000 times the energy of the 4.3 test in 2006, though its bar is only half again as long.

9 events within 25 km of the Punggye-ri test site

  1. 12 Oct 2017earthquake2.9 mb_lg10.1 km from Punggye-riUSGS
  2. 23 Sept 2017earthquake3.6 ml4.1 km from Punggye-riUSGS
  3. 3 Sept 2017collapse4.1 ml7.8 km from Punggye-riUSGS
  4. 3 Sept 2017nuclear explosion6.3 mb7.7 km from Punggye-riUSGS
  5. 9 Sept 2016nuclear explosion5.3 mb1.2 km from Punggye-riUSGS
  6. 6 Jan 2016nuclear explosion5.1 mb4.2 km from Punggye-riUSGS
  7. 12 Feb 2013nuclear explosion5.1 mb7.4 km from Punggye-riUSGS
  8. 25 May 2009nuclear explosion4.7 mb5 km from Punggye-riUSGS
  9. 9 Oct 2006nuclear explosion4.3 mb1.8 km from Punggye-riUSGS
All 68 events USGS lists in and around North Korea since 1905

The search box (37.5 to 43.1°N, 124 to 131°E) also covers parts of China, Russia, South Korea and the sea. USGS writes some Korean place names with a "?" where a letter was lost; they are shown as USGS has them.

Date (UTC)USGS labelMagnitudePlace (as USGS writes it)From the test site
16 Dec 2025 14:38 UTCearthquake4.4 mb17 km SW of Pos’yet, Russia191.2 km
25 Oct 2025 11:45 UTCearthquake5.2 mb40 km NW of Slavyanka, Russia255.3 km
6 Sept 2023 15:52 UTCearthquake4.9 mb34 km E of Hoemul-li, North Korea86 km
14 May 2023 21:27 UTCearthquake3.9 mb45 km NE of Tonghae, South Korea384.4 km
8 Jan 2023 16:28 UTCearthquake3.6 mlSouth Korea461.9 km
11 May 2020 10:45 UTCearthquake3.8 mb_lg32 km E of Koksan, North Korea331.3 km
15 Jul 2019 22:05 UTCearthquake4.2 mb54 km SE of Ungsang-nodongjagu, North Korea174.3 km
27 Jun 2019 06:19 UTCearthquake3.6 mb_lg10 km W of Chunghwa, North Korea395.8 km
19 Apr 2019 02:16 UTCearthquake4.4 mb50 km NE of Tonghae, South Korea382.1 km
12 Oct 2017 16:41 UTCearthquake2.9 mb_lg22 km ENE of S?ngjibaegam, North Korea10.1 km
23 Sept 2017 08:29 UTCearthquake3.6 ml21 km ENE of S?ngjibaegam, North Korea4.1 km
3 Sept 2017 03:38 UTCcollapse4.1 ml21 km ENE of S?ngjibaegam, North Korea7.8 km
3 Sept 2017 03:30 UTCnuclear explosion6.3 mb21 km ENE of S?ngjibaegam, North Korea7.7 km
23 Mar 2017 09:24 UTCearthquake4.0 mb177 km SE of Iw?n-?p, North Korea242.9 km
9 Sept 2016 00:30 UTCnuclear explosion5.3 mb23 km ENE of S?ngjibaegam, North Korea1.2 km
6 Jan 2016 01:30 UTCnuclear explosion5.1 mb21 km ENE of S?ngjibaegam, North Korea4.2 km
17 May 2013 22:02 UTCearthquake4.8 mb80 km WSW of Ongjin, North Korea563.3 km
6 Apr 2013 00:29 UTCearthquake5.8 mww13 km NW of Zarubino, Russia224.2 km
12 Feb 2013 02:57 UTCnuclear explosion5.1 mb18 km ENE of S?ngjibaegam, North Korea7.4 km
9 Sept 2010 01:12 UTCearthquake4.3 mb25 km SSE of Kraskino, Russia198.3 km
21 Feb 2010 07:29 UTCearthquake4.5 mb22 km SSW of Kraskino, Russia191.6 km
18 Feb 2010 01:13 UTCearthquake6.9 mwb15 km SSW of Kraskino, Russia197.6 km
25 May 2009 00:54 UTCnuclear explosion4.7 mb21 km ENE of S?ngjibaegam, North Korea5 km
18 Apr 2009 03:56 UTCearthquake4.9 mb10 km ESE of Hunchun, China208.5 km
20 Apr 2008 14:00 UTCearthquake3.6 mb164 km ENE of Sokcho, South Korea302.3 km
18 Oct 2007 03:29 UTCearthquake4.4 mb66 km SE of Rajin, North Korea155 km
20 Jan 2007 11:56 UTCearthquake4.7 mwc25 km NNE of Pyeongchang, South Korea413 km
9 Oct 2006 01:35 UTCnuclear explosion4.3 mb25 km ENE of S?ngjibaegam, North Korea1.8 km
16 Dec 2004 18:59 UTCearthquake4.0 mb47 km NNW of Hyesan, North Korea109.2 km
15 Nov 2002 14:08 UTCearthquake4.2 mb24 km N of Kraskino, Russia231.4 km
16 Apr 2002 22:52 UTCearthquake4.6 mb42 km N of Iw?n-?p, North Korea72.7 km
17 Mar 2002 00:26 UTCearthquake3.9 mb49 km WSW of Changy?n, North Korea525.5 km
8 Sept 2000 14:18 UTCearthquake4.9 mb73 km SE of Rajin, North Korea158 km
1 Apr 1999 21:35 UTCearthquake3.9 mb16 km N of Kraskino, Russia223.8 km
27 Jun 1997 03:11 UTCearthquake4.3 mb191 km SE of Iw?n-?p, North Korea249.1 km
13 Mar 1996 00:47 UTCearthquake4.0 mb30 km SSW of Zarubino, Russia195.1 km
23 Jan 1996 20:09 UTCearthquake4.3 mb40 km ENE of Santyoku, South Korea417.2 km
11 Aug 1995 18:17 UTCearthquake4.0 mb62 km WSW of Changy?n, North Korea537.2 km
24 Jul 1995 10:02 UTCearthquake4.7 mb78 km WSW of Changy?n, North Korea549 km
11 Nov 1992 23:02 UTCearthquake4.3 mb8 km NW of Chunghwa, North Korea386.2 km
11 May 1990 13:10 UTCearthquake6.3 mw67 km SE of Rajin, North Korea159.2 km
22 May 1989 05:59 UTCearthquake4.1 ml9 km SW of Sinmak, North Korea410.3 km
15 Oct 1988 08:26 UTCearthquake4.8 mb15 km SE of Hwangju-?p, North Korea403.2 km
17 Sept 1983 03:17 UTCearthquake? 9 km NNE of Sariw?n, North Korea409.7 km
15 Jun 1982 03:14 UTCearthquake4.2 mb148 km ENE of Kosong, South Korea263.6 km
14 Feb 1982 14:37 UTCearthquake5.1 mb8 km WNW of Ayang-ni, North Korea443.3 km
20 Sept 1980 11:07 UTCearthquake5.2 mb152 km ENE of Tonghae, South Korea357.3 km
7 Jan 1980 23:44 UTCearthquake5.0 mb25 km SSW of Sakchu-?p, North Korea367.6 km
16 Aug 1979 21:31 UTCearthquake6.1 mb64 km SE of Rajin, North Korea153.3 km
29 Aug 1978 17:29 UTCearthquake4.5 mb91 km SSW of Y?mju-?p, North Korea478.5 km
9 Mar 1977 14:27 UTCearthquake5.9 mb87 km SE of Rajin, North Korea153.6 km
3 Feb 1977 21:31 UTCearthquake5.0 mb31 km NNE of Kraskino, Russia241.6 km
11 Apr 1976 13:03 UTCearthquake5.0 mb18 km NE of Kraskino, Russia230.8 km
11 Apr 1976 13:01 UTCearthquake4.8 mb31 km NNE of Kraskino, Russia240.4 km
29 Jun 1975 10:37 UTCearthquake6.2 mb136 km ENE of Sokcho, South Korea290.5 km
10 Jan 1974 10:31 UTCearthquake4.6 mb28 km SSW of Zarubino, Russia198.7 km
29 Sept 1973 00:44 UTCearthquake6.5 mb61 km SSE of Ungsang-nodongjagu, North Korea163.2 km
10 Sept 1973 07:43 UTCearthquake6.0 mb24 km SW of Zarubino, Russia199.4 km
8 Oct 1960 05:53 UTCearthquake6.8 mw108 km SSE of Kilju, North Korea148.4 km
18 Sept 1955 11:32 UTCearthquake? 140 km ENE of Kosong, South Korea256 km
4 Nov 1953 06:05 UTCearthquake? 158 km ENE of Kosong, South Korea253 km
23 Apr 1952 15:56 UTCearthquake5.6 mw12 km NE of Anak, North Korea421.7 km
19 Mar 1952 09:04 UTCearthquake6.3 mw3 km ENE of Chunghwa, North Korea384.9 km
17 May 1950 11:46 UTCearthquake? 205 km SE of Iw?n-?p, North Korea256.3 km
21 Aug 1945 10:07 UTCearthquake? 42 km S of Zarubino, Russia191.7 km
19 Dec 1944 14:09 UTCearthquake6.6 mw27 km WSW of Langtoucun, China450.7 km
31 Jul 1917 03:23 UTCearthquake7.4 mB7 km WSW of Rajin, North Korea140.4 km
25 Aug 1905 09:46 UTCearthquake6.6 mB5 km SE of Namyang, North Korea194.8 km

USGS catalog downloaded 15 Oct 2026 Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (ComCat)

Missiles

Every class from short range to intercontinental. The big shift is solid fuel: those missiles can be hidden and fired in minutes, so they are much harder to destroy before launch.

Seoul195 kmTokyo1,282 kmGuam3,405 kmHonolulu7,391 kmLos Angeles9,557 kmWashington11,042 km
ICBM, solid fuelAll of the US
ICBM, liquid fuel13,000+ km
IRBM / hypersonic~4,500 km
Submarine-launched1,000–2,000+ km
Cruise1,500–2,000 km
Short range300–800 km

Distances are straight-line from Pyongyang. Square-root scale so short-range missiles stay visible.

  • ICBM, solid fuelAll of the USHwasong-18Hwasong-19

    Minutes to launch instead of hours. Hwasong-19 first flew in October 2024.

  • ICBM, liquid fuel13,000+ kmHwasong-15Hwasong-17

    Hwasong-17 is one of the largest road-mobile missiles in the world.

  • IRBM / hypersonic~4,500 kmHwasong-12Hwasong-16B

    Hwasong-16B carries a hypersonic glide vehicle meant to dodge missile defenses.

  • Submarine-launched1,000–2,000+ kmPukguksong series

    Built and tested at the Sinpo shipyard. Few real submarines to carry them yet.

  • Cruise1,500–2,000 kmHwasal-1Hwasal-2

    Low-altitude cruise missiles, claimed nuclear-capable.

  • Short range300–800 kmHwasong-11 (KN-23/24)KN-25

    Low-flying, maneuvering missiles aimed at South Korea and Japan. Fired at Ukraine by Russia.

360 missile tests since 1984 CNS database

Explore every test
  7. 1990
  17. 2000
  27. 2010
  37. 2020
  43. 2026

SRBM MRBM IRBM ICBM SLBM HGV Space launch

Latest measured events

  1. Ballistic missile launch, at least 2, over 910 kmTracked by Japan's Ministry of Defense · Source
  2. Ballistic missile launch, at least 1, about 680 kmTracked by Japan's Ministry of Defense · Source
  3. Ballistic missile launch, at least 1, about 590 kmTracked by Japan's Ministry of Defense · Source
  4. Ballistic missile launch, at least 1, about 440 kmTracked by Japan's Ministry of Defense · Source
  5. Ballistic missile launch, several, about 320 kmTracked by Japan's Ministry of Defense · Source

Only measured events: seismic readings (USGS) and radar-tracked launches (Japan Ministry of Defense). Checked every few hours.

Conventional forces

1.28Mactive troopsIISS
~600kreservesIISS
~10 yrstypical service for men
~25Mpeople in Seoul’s metro, in artillery range

Why there is no military option

Much of the equipment is Soviet-era, fuel and food are short, and soldiers often work as construction and farm labor. What matters is artillery: thousands of guns and rocket launchers in hardened positions near the DMZ, in range of Seoul. That threat, more than the nukes, is why invasion has never been on the table.

The war in Ukraine

Since late 2024 North Korea has sent more than 20,000 troops to Russia, mainly to the Kursk region. A 2024 mutual defense treaty formalized the alliance.

North Korea sends

  • 20,000+ troops mostly to Kursk
  • Millions of artillery shells
  • Hwasong-11 missiles fired at Ukrainian cities

Russia gives back

  • Money
  • Food
  • Oil
  • Possibly tech satellites, submarines, air defense
~6,000killed or wounded by early 2026South Korean intelligence
7,000+casualtiesUkraine’s HUR

Its soldiers are also getting real combat experience with drones, which no other army in Asia has.

Cyber and crypto theft

$1.5Bstolen from the Bybit exchange in February 2025, the largest crypto theft ever

Hacking groups often called Lazarus steal crypto on a scale no one else does. Thousands of North Korean IT workers also hold remote jobs at foreign companies under fake identities. UN experts say the money funds the weapons programs.

Why this matters for freedom

The weapons are the regime’s insurance against outside pressure, and they cost money that could feed people. Every dollar from crypto theft or arms sales to Russia keeps the elite loyal without reform. Cutting that income is one of the realistic levers.

How North Korea could be freed →

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-18.