North Korea and the new Cold War | 60 Minutes Full Episodes

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North Korea is close to having an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the US with a thermonuclear warhead, while their missile program includes mobile launchers for quicker launches. US forces and NATO are on high alert, with ongoing preparations for potential crises and the need for readiness, especially in Norway.

Insights

  • North Korea is advancing towards developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) named the Hong, capable of reaching the American Homeland with a thermonuclear warhead but is still in the testing phase under Kim Jong-un's supervision.
  • The US Strategic Command maintains a high level of readiness and daily training for nuclear war, with the president having minutes to make a decision in the event of a nuclear attack, emphasizing the ongoing hair-trigger standoff despite reduced nuclear weapons post-Cold War.

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Recent questions

  • What is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)?

    An ICBM is a long-range missile capable of reaching targets thousands of kilometers away.

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Summary

00:00

North Korea's ICBM Threat to America

  • North Korea is close to having an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) named the Hong, capable of reaching the American Homeland with a thermonuclear warhead.
  • Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader, is still in the testing phase and requires more tests before having a reliable weapon.
  • The national Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) in Ohio is tasked with tracking and developing defenses against North Korea's missile threat.
  • NASIC's team analyzes data from North Korean missile launches, determining that missiles could reach California and beyond if launched on a standard trajectory.
  • North Korea's missiles, including the Hong 14 ICBM, have stages for launch, space entry, and re-entry with a warhead, facing extreme temperatures upon re-entry.
  • North Korea's missile program includes mobile launchers for missiles like the Scud, capable of quick launches and carrying nuclear warheads.
  • The Scud missile has a short range but can reach its target in about 5 minutes, designed as a nuclear trainer with a thicker shell for a nuclear warhead.
  • North Korea has conducted numerous missile tests, supervised by Kim Jong-un, showing a tolerance for failure but learning from mistakes to improve missile performance.
  • The US missile defense system aims to intercept North Korean ICBMs, with a 55% success rate in tests, but ICBMs remain a challenging target due to their speed.
  • North Korea's potential to threaten the American Homeland with an ICBM is dependent on successful flight tests and re-entry conditions, with estimates suggesting this could happen as early as next year.

17:08

Defector's escape reveals North Korea's threat.

  • The defector's job in London was to spread North Korean propaganda and report back on colleagues.
  • He lost faith in the regime after Kim Jong-un killed his uncle and executed perceived enemies in 2013.
  • North Korean diplomats are forced to leave one child in Pyongyang as a hostage.
  • The defector's break came when the policy changed, allowing his oldest son to join the family in London.
  • He defected with his family, aided by South Korean intelligence agents, after being questioned for over 3 months.
  • The DMZ separates North and South Korea, where a stalemate has persisted since the Korean War.
  • North Korea has 10,000 artillery pieces aimed at Seoul, capable of causing mass casualties.
  • US forces in Korea are on high alert, monitoring North Korean missile launches.
  • The US Strategic Command trains daily for nuclear war, with the president having sole authority to launch nuclear weapons.
  • The president has minutes to make a decision in the event of a nuclear attack, highlighting the ongoing hair-trigger standoff.

34:59

"Nuclear Weapons Threaten Civilization: Cold War Legacy"

  • During the Cold War, the policy of launch on warning and hair-trigger response was established.
  • Despite the reduced number of nuclear weapons since the Cold War, there are still enough to destroy civilization.
  • Over a thousand nuclear weapons are currently on alert for immediate use.
  • After the Cold War, missiles were pointed at the open ocean as a precaution against accidental war.
  • A false alarm in 1979 almost led to a nuclear launch due to a training tape error.
  • Strategic Command is constructing a new $1.2 billion headquarters that won't survive a nuclear blast.
  • Admiral Haney has a limited time to escape in case of a nuclear attack on the headquarters.
  • In case of Admiral Haney's incapacitation, Rear Admiral Andy Lennon would assume command.
  • The President's order to launch nuclear weapons would be communicated to strategic forces.
  • NATO, despite some members not meeting defense spending targets, has increased military exercises and readiness, particularly in Norway.

52:31

Norway's Readiness Amid NATO Neglect

  • NATO focused heavily on missions like Afghanistan, neglecting territorial defense, leading Norway to feel overlooked. To prepare for potential crises, Norway practices with an American aircraft carrier off its coast, acknowledging the need for readiness despite not matching its powerful neighbor militarily. The f-16 pilots, known as The Guardians of the North, may not halt Russian forces but excel at early detection.
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