Series

How the Next Korean War Might Look

With its latest test of the Hwasong-14, North Korea demonstrated at least a rudimentary capability to launch a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile. At the extreme estimates of its range, the missile has the ability to strike parts of the western United States. More tests and developments will be necessary to increase the Hwasong-14's range, payload and re-entry system, and questions remain about North Korea's ability to miniaturize a nuclear weapon and make it rugged enough to mount on the missile. Even so, Pyongyang is clearly well on its way to realizing its goal of a long-range nuclear weapons capability. This is a three-part series examining the implications of this development for the U.S. relationship with North Korea.

A war between the United States and North Korea is not inevitable, but it is growing increasingly likely — and not because their leaders are crazy.

(CHUNG SUNG-JUN/Getty Images)

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An array of North Korean, South Korean and American missiles stand on display at a museum in Seoul.

Assessments Jul 19, 2017 | 09:00 GMTJul 19, 2017

Straying From the Warpath

North Korea and the United States appear to be well past the point of compromise, but that doesn't mean war is inevitable.

Soldiers in North Korea survey the South from across the Demilitarized Zone in late 2011.

Assessments Jul 18, 2017 | 09:15 GMTJul 18, 2017

The U.S. and North Korea Race Against the Clock

Whether North Korea's perceptions of the United States, and vice versa, are accurate matters less than whether each side believes them and makes its decisions accordingly.