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List of nuclear weapons tests of North Korea

Updated: 5/24/2026, 6:51:00 PM Wikipedia source

North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests, in 2006, 2009, 2013, twice in 2016, and in 2017.

Infobox

Country
North Korea
Test site
Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, North Korea
Period
2006–2017
Number of tests
6
Test type
underground
Max. yield
140 kt (U . intelligence) 160 kt (Revised estimates from Japanese Government) 250 kt (38 North and revised NORSAR estimate)

Tables

North Korea's nuclear tests series tests and detonations · Testing
(1)
(1)
Sequence
(1)
Date time (UT)
9 October 2006 01:35:27
Local time zone
KST (+9 hrs)
Location
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°17′06″N 129°06′30″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((1))
Elevation + height
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −310 m (−1,020 ft)
Delivery
underground
Yield
0 –2 kt
Possibly a fizzle. East Tunnel approximately 1 km NE from the entrance. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 2 kilotons in 2013 but has since revised to 0 kt. The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for t
Possibly a fizzle. East Tunnel approximately 1 km NE from the entrance. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 2 kilotons in 2013 but has since revised to 0 kt. The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for t
Sequence
Possibly a fizzle. East Tunnel approximately 1 km NE from the entrance. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 2 kilotons in 2013 but has since revised to 0 kt. The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for t
(2)
(2)
Sequence
(2)
Date time (UT)
25 May 2009 00:54:43
Local time zone
KST (+9 hrs)
Location
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°17′29″N 129°04′54″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((2))
Elevation + height
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −490 m (−1,610 ft)
Delivery
underground
Yield
2–5 kt
West Tunnel at about 1 km NW from the tunnel entrance. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 13 kt in 2013 but has since revised to 5 kt. The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
West Tunnel at about 1 km NW from the tunnel entrance. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 13 kt in 2013 but has since revised to 5 kt. The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
Sequence
West Tunnel at about 1 km NW from the tunnel entrance. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 13 kt in 2013 but has since revised to 5 kt. The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
(3)
(3)
Sequence
(3)
Date time (UT)
12 February 2013 02:57:51
Local time zone
KST (+9 hrs)
Location
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°16′05″N 129°04′51″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((3))
Elevation + height
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −1,000 m (−3,300 ft)
Delivery
underground
Yield
6–16 kt
Likely the test took place in the West Tunnel. South tunnel damaged by flooding in 2012. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 40 kilotons in 2013 but has since revised the yield as 14 kt. The University of Science and Technology of China estimates t
Likely the test took place in the West Tunnel. South tunnel damaged by flooding in 2012. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 40 kilotons in 2013 but has since revised the yield as 14 kt. The University of Science and Technology of China estimates t
Sequence
Likely the test took place in the West Tunnel. South tunnel damaged by flooding in 2012. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 40 kilotons in 2013 but has since revised the yield as 14 kt. The University of Science and Technology of China estimates t
(4)
(4)
Sequence
(4)
Date time (UT)
6 January 2016 01:30:01
Local time zone
PYT (+8:30 hrs)
Location
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°18′32″N 129°02′02″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((4))
Elevation + height
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −1,000 m (−3,300 ft)
Delivery
underground
Yield
7–16 kt
Claimed to be a hydrogen bomb. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has originally estimated the yield as 14kt but has since revised to 10kt. The University of Science and Technology of China estimates the yield at around 11 kt, with a margin of error of 4 kt. Hence the max yield could be 16 kt for this test. The Interna
Claimed to be a hydrogen bomb. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has originally estimated the yield as 14kt but has since revised to 10kt. The University of Science and Technology of China estimates the yield at around 11 kt, with a margin of error of 4 kt. Hence the max yield could be 16 kt for this test. The Interna
Sequence
Claimed to be a hydrogen bomb. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has originally estimated the yield as 14kt but has since revised to 10kt. The University of Science and Technology of China estimates the yield at around 11 kt, with a margin of error of 4 kt. Hence the max yield could be 16 kt for this test. The Interna
(5)
(5)
Sequence
(5)
Date time (UT)
9 September 2016 00:30:01
Local time zone
PYT (+8:30 hrs)
Location
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°17′53″N 129°00′54″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((5))
Elevation + height
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −1,000 m (−3,300 ft)
Delivery
underground
Yield
15–25 kt
North Korea announced that this is a successful test of a warhead that can be mounted onto a rocket. Siegfried S. Hecker, former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, estimated yield at 15 to 25 kt. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has initially estimated the yield as 25 kt. The University of Science and Technology o
North Korea announced that this is a successful test of a warhead that can be mounted onto a rocket. Siegfried S. Hecker, former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, estimated yield at 15 to 25 kt. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has initially estimated the yield as 25 kt. The University of Science and Technology o
Sequence
North Korea announced that this is a successful test of a warhead that can be mounted onto a rocket. Siegfried S. Hecker, former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, estimated yield at 15 to 25 kt. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has initially estimated the yield as 25 kt. The University of Science and Technology o
(6)
(6)
Sequence
(6)
Date time (UT)
3 September 2017 03:30:01
Local time zone
PYT (+8:30 hrs)
Location
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°20′35″N 129°02′10″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((2))
Elevation + height
1,340 m (4,400 ft), 0 m (0 ft)
Delivery
underground
Yield
70–280 kt
Claimed to be a hydrogen bomb (but may only be a boosted fission weapon rather than an actual staged Teller–Ulam thermonuclear weapon). On 3 September, South Korea’s weather agency, the Korea Meteorological Administration, estimated that the nuclear weapons blast yield of the presumed test was between 50 and 60 kilotons based on a magnitude 5 de
Claimed to be a hydrogen bomb (but may only be a boosted fission weapon rather than an actual staged Teller–Ulam thermonuclear weapon). On 3 September, South Korea’s weather agency, the Korea Meteorological Administration, estimated that the nuclear weapons blast yield of the presumed test was between 50 and 60 kilotons based on a magnitude 5 de
Sequence
Claimed to be a hydrogen bomb (but may only be a boosted fission weapon rather than an actual staged Teller–Ulam thermonuclear weapon). On 3 September, South Korea’s weather agency, the Korea Meteorological Administration, estimated that the nuclear weapons blast yield of the presumed test was between 50 and 60 kilotons based on a magnitude 5 de
Sequence
Date time (UT)
Local time zone
Location
Elevation + height
Delivery
Yield
Fallout
References
(1)
9 October 2006 01:35:27
KST (+9 hrs)
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°17′06″N 129°06′30″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((1))
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −310 m (−1,020 ft)
underground
0 –2 kt
Possibly a fizzle. East Tunnel approximately 1 km NE from the entrance. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 2 kilotons in 2013 but has since revised to 0 kt. The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for t
(2)
25 May 2009 00:54:43
KST (+9 hrs)
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°17′29″N 129°04′54″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((2))
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −490 m (−1,610 ft)
underground
2–5 kt
West Tunnel at about 1 km NW from the tunnel entrance. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 13 kt in 2013 but has since revised to 5 kt. The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
(3)
12 February 2013 02:57:51
KST (+9 hrs)
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°16′05″N 129°04′51″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((3))
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −1,000 m (−3,300 ft)
underground
6–16 kt
Likely the test took place in the West Tunnel. South tunnel damaged by flooding in 2012. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, a state-run geology research institute in Germany, estimated the yield at 40 kilotons in 2013 but has since revised the yield as 14 kt. The University of Science and Technology of China estimates t
(4)
6 January 2016 01:30:01
PYT (+8:30 hrs)
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°18′32″N 129°02′02″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((4))
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −1,000 m (−3,300 ft)
underground
7–16 kt
Claimed to be a hydrogen bomb. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has originally estimated the yield as 14kt but has since revised to 10kt. The University of Science and Technology of China estimates the yield at around 11 kt, with a margin of error of 4 kt. Hence the max yield could be 16 kt for this test. The Interna
(5)
9 September 2016 00:30:01
PYT (+8:30 hrs)
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°17′53″N 129°00′54″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((5))
1,340 m (4,400 ft), −1,000 m (−3,300 ft)
underground
15–25 kt
North Korea announced that this is a successful test of a warhead that can be mounted onto a rocket. Siegfried S. Hecker, former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, estimated yield at 15 to 25 kt. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has initially estimated the yield as 25 kt. The University of Science and Technology o
(6)
3 September 2017 03:30:01
PYT (+8:30 hrs)
Punggye-ri Test Site, North Korea 41°20′35″N 129°02′10″E / 41 °N 129 °E / 41 ; 129 ((2))
1,340 m (4,400 ft), 0 m (0 ft)
underground
70–280 kt
Claimed to be a hydrogen bomb (but may only be a boosted fission weapon rather than an actual staged Teller–Ulam thermonuclear weapon). On 3 September, South Korea’s weather agency, the Korea Meteorological Administration, estimated that the nuclear weapons blast yield of the presumed test was between 50 and 60 kilotons based on a magnitude 5 de
North Korea's nuclear testing series summary · Summary
nuclear tests
nuclear tests
Series or years
nuclear tests
Years covered
2006–2017
Tests
6
Devices fired
6
Yield range (kilotons)
0 –250
Total yield (kilotons)
197
Totals
Totals
Series or years
Totals
Years covered
2006-Oct-9 to 2017-Sep-3
Tests
6
Devices fired
6
Yield range (kilotons)
0 –250
Total yield (kilotons)
197 (Based on average yield from lower to upper estimates as the Government of DPRK does not announce the exact yield.)
Notes
Total country yield is 0 % of all nuclear testing.
Series or years
Years covered
Tests
Devices fired
Devices with unknown yield
Peaceful use tests
Non-PTBT tests
Yield range (kilotons)
Total yield (kilotons)
Notes
nuclear tests
2006–2017
6
6
0 –250
197
Totals
2006-Oct-9 to 2017-Sep-3
6
6
0 –250
197 (Based on average yield from lower to upper estimates as the Government of DPRK does not announce the exact yield.)
Total country yield is 0 % of all nuclear testing.

References

  1. To convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight sa
  2. Estimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4 gigajoules (1 gigacalori
  3. Radioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131
  4. Location from seismic data, about 6 km west northwest Punggye-ri and locus of previous tests.
  5. Includes all tests with potential for nuclear fission or fusion explosion, including combat use, singleton tests, salvo
  6. Number of tests which would have been in violation of the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963, such as atmospheric, space or
  7. "Small" refers to a value greater than zero but less than 0 kt.
  8. Some yields are described like "< 20 kt"; such are scored at one half of the numeric amount, i ., yield of 10k in this e
  9. Panda, Ankit (6 September 2017). "US Intelligence: North Korea's Sixth Test Was a 140 Kiloton 'Advanced Nuclear' Device"
  10. The Japan Times
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170906124903/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/09/06/national/north-korean-nuke-test-put-160-kilotons-ishiba-urges-debate-deploying-u-s-atomic-bombs/
  11. "North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Satellite Imagery Shows Post-Test Effects and New Activity in Alternate Tunnel Portal Areas | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea"
    http://www.38north.org/2017/09/punggye091217/
  12. "The nuclear explosion in North Korea on 3 September 2017: A revised magnitude assessment"
    https://www.norsar.no/press/latest-press-release/archive/the-nuclear-explosion-in-north-korea-on-3-september-2017-a-revised-magnitude-assessment-article1548-984.html
  13. "Search Results"
    https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/#%7B%22autoUpdate%22%3A%5B%5D%2C%22basemap%22%3A%22grayscale%22%2C%22feed%22%3A%221506213235065%22%2C%22listFormat%22%3A%22default%22%2C%22mapposition%22%3A%5B%5B41.258194471326796%2C128.96249771118164%5D%2C%5B41.352329864032406%2C129.14892196655273%5D%5D%2C%22overlays%22%3A%5B%22plates%22%5D%2C%22restrictListToMap%22%3A%5B%22restrictListToMap%22%5D%2C%22search%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A%221506213235065%22%2C%22name%22%3A%22Search%20Results%22%2C%22isSearch%22%3Atrue%2C%22params%22%3A%7B%22starttime%22%3A%221900-01-01%2000%3A00%3A00%22%2C%22endtime%22%3A%222017-09-23%2023%3A59%3A59%22%2C%22maxlatitude%22%3A43%2C%22minlatitude%22%3A37.5%2C%22maxlongitude%22%3A131%2C%22minlongitude%22%3A124%2C%22minmagnitude%22%3A1%2C%22orderby%22%3A%22time-asc%22%7D%7D%2C%22sort%22%3A%22oldest%22%2C%22timezone%22%3A%22utc%22%2C%22viewModes%22%3A%5B%22list%22%2C%22map%22%5D%2C%22event%22%3Anull%7D
  14. "North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Analysis Reveals Its Potential for Additional Testing with Significantly Higher Yields"
    https://www.38north.org/2017/03/punggye031017/
  15. "Time Zone Database"
    http://www.ietf.org/timezones/
  16. "Magnitude 4 –North Korea"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140427050803/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2006/ustqab/
  17. Nordkorea: BGR registriert vermutlichen Kernwaffentest – BGR (In German), 12 Feb 2013
    http://www.bgr.bund.de/DE/Gemeinsames/Oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/Pressemitteilungen/BGR/bgr-130212_Kernwaffentest-Nordkorea.html
  18. Nordkorea: BGR registriert vermutlichen Kernwaffentest – BGR, 6 Jan 2016
    http://www.bgr.bund.de/DE/Gemeinsames/Oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/Pressemitteilungen/BGR/bgr-160106_nordkorea_BGR_kernwaffentest.html?nn=1542132
  19. "Second nuclear test conducted by North Korea on 25 May 2009"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090530033729/http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/file_download/177/Kalinowski.pdf
  20. "Magnitude 4 –North Korea"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090528075047/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009hbaf.php
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