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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| North Korea crisis in 300 words | North Korea crisis in 300 words |
| (3 days later) | |
| As the US and North Korea prepare for a historic summit, let's take a step back and look at the crisis that at worst could threaten nuclear war. | As the US and North Korea prepare for a historic summit, let's take a step back and look at the crisis that at worst could threaten nuclear war. |
| Why does North Korea want nuclear weapons? | Why does North Korea want nuclear weapons? |
| The Korean peninsula was divided after World War Two and the North developed into a Stalinesque authoritarian system. | The Korean peninsula was divided after World War Two and the North developed into a Stalinesque authoritarian system. |
| Isolated on the global stage, it says nuclear weapons are its only deterrent against an outside world seeking to destroy it. | Isolated on the global stage, it says nuclear weapons are its only deterrent against an outside world seeking to destroy it. |
| Could it carry out a nuclear attack? | Could it carry out a nuclear attack? |
| North Korea has carried out six nuclear tests. One, it says, was a hydrogen bomb. | North Korea has carried out six nuclear tests. One, it says, was a hydrogen bomb. |
| It claims, though this remains unverified, to have developed a nuclear bomb small enough to be carried by a long-range missile. | It claims, though this remains unverified, to have developed a nuclear bomb small enough to be carried by a long-range missile. |
| It has also has a ballistic missile that experts believe could reach the US, Pyongyang's main adversary. | It has also has a ballistic missile that experts believe could reach the US, Pyongyang's main adversary. |
| In response the UN, the US, the EU and have implemented increasingly tough sanctions. | In response the UN, the US, the EU and have implemented increasingly tough sanctions. |
| Why can't Kim just be removed? | Why can't Kim just be removed? |
| The North has missiles aimed at South Korea and Japan. A pre-emptive strike against Pyongyang could trigger devastating retaliation. It would also kill countless North Koreans. | The North has missiles aimed at South Korea and Japan. A pre-emptive strike against Pyongyang could trigger devastating retaliation. It would also kill countless North Koreans. |
| As the biggest Asian power, China is concerned about regime collapse, and that a unified Korea would bring US forces currently stationed in the South directly to its border. | As the biggest Asian power, China is concerned about regime collapse, and that a unified Korea would bring US forces currently stationed in the South directly to its border. |
| A historic summit in the making? | A historic summit in the making? |
| Previous attempts to negotiate aid-for-disarmament deals have failed. | Previous attempts to negotiate aid-for-disarmament deals have failed. |
| But in 2018, the North embarked on direct talks with Seoul and in April the Koreas' two leaders met for a historic inter-Korean summit. | But in 2018, the North embarked on direct talks with Seoul and in April the Koreas' two leaders met for a historic inter-Korean summit. |
| Pyongyang also suggested direct talks with the US, ordered a halt to nuclear and missile tests, freed three US detainees and blew up its nuclear testing site. | |
| In March, US President Donald Trump briefly called off the summit but currently, his unprecedented meeting with Kim Jong-un is due to take place on 12 June in Singapore. | In March, US President Donald Trump briefly called off the summit but currently, his unprecedented meeting with Kim Jong-un is due to take place on 12 June in Singapore. |
| Want to know more? | Want to know more? |