North Korea's nuclear test on May 25th, 2009, capped an 8-year period in which the country ended the freeze on its plutonium program, withdrew from the NPT and claims to have weaponized its plutonium. It may have also transferred nuclear and missile technology to Syria, Pakistan and Iran.  Beginning a new chapter of persistent, direct diplomacy is key to ending the North Korean nuclear threat.  

Estimated total nuclear weapons: North Korea <10