The nuclear capability of North Korea and other countries is still a threat, even if war is incredibly unlikely
North Korea’s nuclear weapons tests have been widely criticised by the US, leading to rising tensions over a nuclear standoff. Drs Alex Miles and Malcolm Craig give their historical perspective on the current situation, explaining how sanctions rarely have an effect in encouraging countries to reduce their nuclear programs, and exploring how justified fears of nuclear conflict really are.
Key points
How close are we to nuclear war? 0:10
What are North Korea’s nuclear capabilities? 3:21
How much influence do individual leaders have in the decision to go to war? 6:07
What role does China play? 13:51
If nuclear war broke out, which areas in the UK would be targeted? 17:51
How would nuclear war be fought? Are these fears misplaced? 19:44
Discover more about studying History and other humanities courses at LJMU in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Listen online: North Korea from the inside
While the world looks at North Korea from a distance, former British Ambassador to North Korea John Everard gave a candid insight into life inside the country in his 2017 Roscoe Lecture, highlighting its 'ancient tradition of culture and hospitableness' and the everyday lives of its people.
Homepage image: Mansudae Hill Grand Monument, Pyongyang. Cropped from North Korea Victory Day 247 by Stefan Krasowski/Flickr under CC BY 2.0
