PCA - North Korea/Iran

What was North Korea’s nuclear weapons status prior to 2019?

no nuclear-capable missile or nuclear tests in over a year, Kim Jong Un announces that North Korea is going towards complete denuclearization

What was North Korea’s nuclear weapons status in 2022/23?

North Korea conducts over 80 Ballistic missile test launches

What is North Korea’s general military posture?

disproportionate response to provocations, emphasis on preemption exacerbate escalatory dangers

2006 October

First nuclear weapons test

2009 May

Second underground nuclear test

2012

North Korea claims it has missiles that can hit US mainland

2022

69 total launches, 13 different types of missiles

2023

4 Inter-continental Ballistic Missiles launched

What is Iran’s current national strategy?

Erode US influence in the Middle East, project power by backing groups like Hamas (Israel), Hezbollah, and the Houthis (Yemen)

What are Iran’s missile capabilities?

developing ballistic missiles, not currently executing nuclear weapons-related activities

What are Iran’s military capabilities?

unmanned explosive boats, naval mines, subs and torpedoes, armed and attack UAVs, anti-ship and land attack cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, air defenses

What are Iran’s two navies?

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN)

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN)

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) location

Think Coast Guard

Persian Gulf

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN)

Think Big Navy

Caspian Sea, Gulf of Oman

What are Iran’s interactions in Syria?

efforts to consolidate influence in Syria and arm Hezbollah caused Israel to launch air strikes

What are Iran’s interactions in Iraq

Iran supports Popular Mobilization Committee-affiliated Shia militias

What are Iran’s interactions in Israel

Hamas - funded and trained by Iran attacked in 2023. Publicly celebrated attacks.

Retaliated against Israel after they struck Syria with over 300 drones and missiles.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?

chokepoint, 18+ million barrels of oil come through it every day

Iran threatens to close it down and activate mines (US has 4 active minesweepers in area)

What are Iranian threats to US military forces?

Fast attack craft, fast inshore attack craft (swarm tactics), Shahab-3 Medium-Range Missile (capable of carrying nuclear warhead, launched from anywhere), Fateh-110 Short-Range Missile (can carry nuclear or biological warheads, launched from anywhere)

Modernization plan for IRGCN?

smaller, faster platforms that have better weaponry, asymmetric warfare

Modernization plan for IRIN?

neglected since end of Iran-Iraq war in the 80s

focusing on Submarines, air launched cruise missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles

In 2024, North Korea transferred weapons and ammunition to ____ in support of the ongoing war.  

Russia

How does North Korea mitigate the effects of U.S.-led sanctions?  

Through diplomatic engagement and sanctions evasion

China accounts for __% of North Korea’s trade

80

The U.S. Department of Defense manages the North Korean security challenge through close coordination with South Korea and ________ 

Japan

In January 1968, North Korea captured which U.S. naval vessel?

USS Pueblo

April 1969

North Korean Mig-21 fighters shot down a U.S. Navy EC-121 reconnaissance aircraft, killing all 31 sailors aboard.  

The Houthis often attack shipping near which strait?

Bab el Mandeb Strait

In April 2024, how many incidents were there between the U.S. Navy and Houthi's?

19

Who provided Iran with their SA-20c SAM air defense system in 2016?

Russia

Nearly ____ of all seaborne crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz making it one of the world's most critical chokepoints.

1/3

In June of 2019...

Iran shot down an U.S. RQ-4A Global Hawk drone.