North Korea Nuclear Tests: Motivations and International Responses

Since the start of 2016 the Democratic People's Republic of Korea {DPRK) has been working towards further advancement of its nuclear and missile programs. There have been some significant developments that include DPRK's claims to have successfully conducted a Hydrogen bomb test (January 2016} and another nuclear test {September 2016}, a successful satellite launch, formation of a new military unit KN-08 brigade to deploy ICMBs, testfiring of a new anti-tank guided weapon etc. The international community has widely condemned all these developments by unanimously adopting the toughest United Nations Security Council Resolutions {UNSCRs) against the DPRK. All these UNSCRs focus on the economic and diplomatic isolation of DPRK through a series of sanctions, but DPRK still seems determined to further advance its nuclear and missile program. This research paper will give a rundown of the DPRK's previous nuclear tests and would also list the UN Security Council resolutions adopted against the DPRK. It also provides an analytical overview of North Korea's test conducted in January and September 2016. Moreover, the possible motives behind North Korean nuclear adventurism have also been analyzed. The official responses and the measures taken by the international community on the recent North Korean nuclear tests will also be discussed in detail.