What is North Koreas history with respect to nuclear weapons?
North Korea is a signatory to the 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. This treaty obligates the five nuclear weapon states (Russia, United States, United Kingdom, France and China) not to transfer nuclear weapons, other nuclear explosive devices, or their technology to any non-nuclear weapon state. The non-nuclear weapon states agree not to acquire or produce nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices. All nations are parties to this agreement except India, Pakistan, Cuba, and Israel. In March 1993, faced with accusations that it was not abiding by the non-proliferation treaty and in response to massive U.S. military exercises in the region, North Korea announced it was withdrawing from the treaty. The initial response of the Clinton Administration was to prepare for a war which would ultimately destroy North Korea. This plan, which would have likely been successful despite an enormous loss of life, was opposed by South Korea but was not abandoned until former U.S. President James
