Publications

Hinge Points: An Inside Look at North Korea’s Nuclear Program

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Publications

A sampling of articles, interviews, and news commentaries by Siegfried Hecker.

• Hecker, Siegfried, and Jenny Town. “North Korea’s Evolving Nuclear Doctrine: An Interview With Siegfried Hecker,” 38 North, Stimson Center, May 24, 2022. https://www.38north.org/2022/05/north-koreas-evolving-nuclear-doctrine-an-interview-with-siegfried-hecker/.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “How Has Vladimir Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine Upended the World Nuclear Order?” Carnegie Corporation of New York, April 29, 2022. https://www.carnegie.org/our-work/article/how-has-vladimir-putins-invasion-of-ukraine-upended-the-world-nuclear-order/.
• Mecklin, John. “Siegfried Hecker: Putin Has Destroyed the World Nuclear Order. How Should the Democracies Respond?” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, https://thebulletin.org/2022/04/siegfried-hecker-putin-has-destroyed-the-world-nuclear-order-how-should-the-democracies-respond/.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Presentations 2004-2022,” https://dprk.sites.stanford.edu/presentations.
• “US Expert Suggests Elimination of NK Chemical Weapons As Confidence-Building Step for Nuke Disarmament,” The Korea Herald, September 15, 2021. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210915000763.
• “Estimating North Korea’s Nuclear Stockpiles: An Interview With Siegfried Hecker,” 38 North. https://www.38north.org/2021/04/estimating-north-koreas-nuclear-stockpiles-an-interview-with-siegfried-hecker/.
• “Dismantlement of Yongbyon Complex Should Not Be Underrated: U.S. Expert,” Yonhap News Agency, December 11, 2020. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20201211008100325.
• Mecklin, John. “Siegfried Hecker on Remembering History While Planning the Future of Nuclear Arms Control,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. https://thebulletin.org/premium/2020-12/interview-siegfried-hecker-on-remembering-history-while-planning-the-future-of-nuclear-arms-control/.
• Hecker, Siegfried and Robert. L. Carlin. “North Korea in 2011: Countdown to Kim il-Sung’s centenary,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January 1, 2012. https://thebulletin.org/2012/01/north-korea-in-2011-countdown-to-kim-il-sungs-centenary/#post-heading

Journal Articles

• Park, Sulgiye, Terry McNulty, Allison Puccioni, and Rodney Ewing. “Assessing Uranium Ore Processing Activities Using Satellite Imagery at Pyongsan in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” Science & Global Security, 29, no. 3 (October 14, 2021): 111-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/08929882.2021.1988258.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Cooperative Threat Reduction: Comparing the Russian Experience With DPRK Challenges,” Asia-Pacific Leadership Network. https://cms.apln.network/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FINALAPLN_CTRHecker.pdf.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “The North Korean Nuclear Question Revisited: Facts, Myths and Uncertainties,” Global Asia, September 2021. https://globalasia.org/v16no3/cover/the-north-korean-nuclear-question-revisited-facts-myths-and-uncertainties_siegfried-s-hecker.
• Park, Sulgiye, Allison Puccioni, Cameron Tracy, Elliot Serbin, and Rodney Ewing. “Geologic Analysis of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Uranium Resources and Mines,” Science & Global Security, 28, no. 2 (May 18, 2020): 89-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/08929882.2020.1789275.
• Hecker, Siegfried, Chaim Braun, and Chris Lawrence. “North Korea’s Stockpiles of Fissile Material”, The Korea Observer, Institute of Korean Studies, 47, no. 4 (2016): 721-49. http://www.iks.or.kr/rankup_module/rankup_board/attach/vol47no4/14833231665766.pdf.
• Bistline, John, David Blum, Chris Rinaldi, Gabriel Shields-Estrada, Siegfried Hecker, and M. Elisabeth Paté-Cornell. “A Bayesian Model to Assess the Size of North Korea’s Uranium Enrichment Program”, Science & Global Security, 23, no. 2 (2015): 71-100. https://doi.org/10.1080/08929882.2015.1039431.
• Bosworth, Stephen, Steven Miller, and Siegfried Hecker. “Dealing With North Korea’s Nuclear Program”, American Academy of the Arts and Sciences Bulletin, no. 4 (2012): 12-17. https://www.amacad.org/news/dealing-north-koreas-nuclear-program.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Adventures in Scientific Nuclear Diplomacy”, Physics Today, 64, no. 7 (July 2011): 31-37. https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.3.1165.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Extraordinary Visits: Lessons Learned from Engaging With North Korea”, The Nonproliferation Review, 18, no. 2 (June 21, 2011): 445-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10736700.2011.583122.
• Hecker, Siegfried, Chaim Braun, and Robert Carlin. “North Korea’s Light-Water Reactor Ambitions”, Journal of Nuclear Materials Management, no. 3 (March 2011): 18-25. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286983611_North_Korea’s_light-water_reactor_ambitions.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “What I Found in Yongbyon and Why It Matters”, APS News: The Back Page, Publication of the American Physical Society, 20, no. 3 (March 2011): 8. https://courses.physics.illinois.edu/phys280/sp2016/archive/2011-03%20Hecker%20-%20What%20I%20found%20in%20Yongbyon%20and%20Why%20It%20Matters.pdf.
• Hecker, Siegfried, Sean Lee, and Chaim Braun. “North Korea’s Choice: Bombs over Electricity”, National Academy of Engineering, The Bridge, 40, no. 2 (June 2010): 5-12. https://fsi-live.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/Hecker-Lee-Braun_North_Koreas_Choice.pdf.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Lessons Learned from the North Korean Crises”, Daedalus, no. 2 (January 15, 2009): 44–56. https://dprk.sites.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj22091/files/media/file/2009-hecker-daedalus.pdf.
• “Denuclearizing North Korea”, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 64, no. 2 (2008): 44-49, 61. https://doi.org/10.2968/064002011.
• Hecker, Siegfried, and William Liou. “Dangerous Dealings: North Korea’s Nuclear Capabilities and the Threat of Export to Iran”, Arms Control Today, Arms Control Association, 37, no. 2 (March 2007): 6-11. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2007-03/iran-nuclear-briefs/dangerous-dealings-north-korea%E2%80%99s-nuclear-capabilities-threat-export.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “The Nuclear Crisis in North Korea (Reprint)”, MRS Bulletin, Materials Research Society, 29, no. 11 (November 2004): 782-85. https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs2004.218.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “The Nuclear Crisis in North Korea”, National Academy of Engineering, The Bridge, 34, no. 2 (June 1, 2004): 17-23. https://www.nae.edu/7452/TheNuclearCrisisinNorthKorea.

Opinion Editorials/Commentary and Analysis

• Hecker, Siegfried, Robert Carlin, and Elliot Serbin. “The More We Wait, The Worse It Will Get,” 38 North, September 4, 2019. https://www.38north.org/2019/09/sheckerrcarlineserbin090419/.
• Hecker, Siegfried, and Robert Carlin. “We Are Teetering on the Edge of a Hinge Point With North Korea,” The WorldPost, Berggruen Institute, August 5, 2019. https://www.berggruen.org/the-worldpost/articles/we-are-teetering-on-the-edge-of-a-hinge-point-with-north-korea/.
• Hecker, Siegfried, Robert Carlin, and Elliot Serbin. “The Stage May Be Set for Progress at the Trump-Kim Summit,” The Washington Post in collaboration with The WorldPost, Berggruen Institute, February 20, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/20/why-were-optimistic-about-trump-kim-summit/.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Why Insisting on a North Korean Nuclear Declaration Up Front Is a Big Mistake,” 38 North, Stimson Center, November 28, 2018. https://www.38north.org/2018/11/shecker112818/.
• Hecker, Siegfried, Robert Carlin, and Elliot Serbin. “Total Denuclearization Is an Unattainable Goal. Here’s How to Reduce the North Korean Threat,” Foreign Policy Magazine, June 25, 2018. https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/06/25/total-denuclearization-is-an-unattainable-goal-heres-how-to-reduce-the-north-korean-threat/.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Why Did Kim Jong Un Blow up His Nuclear Test Site?” The Washington Post, May 30, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2018/05/30/north-korea-test-site/.
• Hecker, Siegfried, William Perry, and Scott Sagan. “North Korea and the Potential for a Nuclear Catastrophe”. Medium, December 1, 2017. https://medium.com/stanford-magazine/stanford-experts-on-north-korea-and-the-risk-of-nuclear-catastrophe-65c4172b66f5.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Time to Insert the Control Rods on North Korea”. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, October 17, 2017. https://thebulletin.org/2017/10/time-to-insert-the-control-rods-on-north-korea/.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “If Nixon Went to China, Trump Can Talk to North Korea”. POLITICO, August 23, 2017. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/08/23/north-korea-talk-nuclear-weapons-icbms-215523.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Donald Trump Must Analyze North Korea’s Nuclear Crisis and Act Accordingly”. U.S. News and World Report, April 20, 2017. https://www.usnews.com/opinion/debate-club/articles/2017-04-20/donald-trump-must-analyze-north-koreas-nuclear-crisis-and-act-accordingly.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “With Nuclear Weapons Threats across the World, the Greatest Challenge Facing President Trump Is Avoiding Nuclear Devastation”. Medium, January 25, 2017. https://medium.com/freeman-spogli-institute-for-international-studies/with-nuclear-weapons-threats-across-the-world-the-greatest-challenge-facing-president-trump-is-1cc72f8b3490#.kxw1q9sr2.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “The U.S. Must Talk to North Korea”. The New York Times, January 12, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/opinion/the-us-must-talk-to-north-korea.html.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “The Real Threat from North Korea Is the Nuclear Arsenal Built over the Last Decade”. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January 7, 2015. http://thebulletin.org/real-threat-north-korea-nuclear-arsenal-built-over-last-decade7883.
• Hecker, Siegfried, and Scott Sagan. “Seoul’s Nuclear Weapon Is the U.S”.. The New York Times, March 11, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/03/11/will-south-korea-and-japan-take-the-nuclear-route/seoul-should-rely-on-the-us-in-the-face-of-nuclear-threats-from-south-korea.
• Milonopoulos, Niko, Siegfried Hecker, and Robert Carlin. “North Korea from 30,000 Feet”. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January 6, 2012. https://thebulletin.org/2012/01/north-korea-from-30000-feet/.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “From Pyongyang to Tehran, With Nukes”. Foreign Policy, May 26, 2009. https://foreignpolicy.com/2009/05/26/from-pyongyang-to-tehran-with-nukes/.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “The Risks of North Korea’s Nuclear Restart”. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 12, 2009. https://thebulletin.org/2009/05/the-risks-of-north-koreas-nuclear-restart.
• Hecker, Siegfried, and William Perry. “The Right Path with North Korea”. The Washington Post, May 13, 2008. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202330.html.

Policy Briefs/Reports

• Hecker, Siegfried, Robert Carlin, and Elliot Serbin. “A Comprehensive History of North Korea’s Nuclear Program: 2018 Update,” Center for International Security and Cooperation, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, February 11, 2019. https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/content/dprk-history-2018-update.
• Hecker, Siegfried, Robert Carlin, and Elliot Serbin. “A Technical and Political History of North Korea’s Nuclear Program over the past 26 Years,” CISAC, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, May 28, 2018. https://fsi-live.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/narrativescombinedfinv2.pdf.
• Hecker, Siegfried, Robert Carlin, and Elliot Serbin. “A Comprehensive History of North Korea’s Nuclear Program”. Center for International Security and Cooperation, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, May 2018. https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/content/cisac-north-korea.
• Braun, Chaim, Siegfried Hecker, Chris Lawrence, and Panos Papadiamantis. “North Korean Nuclear Facilities After the Agreed Framework”. CISAC, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, May 27, 2016. https://fsi-live.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/khucisacfinalreport_compressed.pdf.
• Hecker, Siegfried, Chaim Braun, Peter Davis, Robert Forrest, Young-Sun Ha, Sook Jong Lee, Man-Sung Yim, Bong-Geun Jun, Sung-ho Sheen, Chaesung Chun, and Jin Seok Bae. “Final Report on Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Security in the Republic of Korea”. CISAC, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, December 5, 2013. https://fsi-live.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/Final_Report_for_CISAC_Website_Dec._5.pdf.
• Hecker, Siegfried. “North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Complex: A Report by Siegfried S. Hecker”. CISAC, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, November 20, 2010. https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/publications/north_koreas_yongbyon_nuclear_complex_a_report_by_siegfried
• Hecker, Siegfried. “Report on North Korean Nuclear Program”. CISAC, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, November 15, 2006. https://fsi-live.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/DPRK-report-Hecker-06-1.pdf.

Interviews

• Hecker, Siegfried, and Jenny Town. “North Korea’s Evolving Nuclear Doctrine: An Interview With Siegfried Hecker”. 38 North, Stimson Center, May 24, 2022. https://www.38north.org/2022/05/north-koreas-evolving-nuclear-doctrine-an-interview-with-siegfried-hecker/.
• Mecklin, John. “Siegfried Hecker: Putin Has Destroyed the World Nuclear Order. How Should the Democracies Respond?”, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. https://thebulletin.org/2022/04/siegfried-hecker-putin-has-destroyed-the-world-nuclear-order-how-should-the-democracies-respond/.
• “Estimating North Korea’s Nuclear Stockpiles: An Interview With Siegfried Hecker”., 38 North. https://www.38north.org/2021/04/estimating-north-koreas-nuclear-stockpiles-an-interview-with-siegfried-hecker/.
• Mecklin, John. “Siegfried Hecker on Remembering History While Planning the Future of Nuclear Arms Control”, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. https://thebulletin.org/premium/2020-12/interview-siegfried-hecker-on-remembering-history-while-planning-the-future-of-nuclear-arms-control/.
• Eaves, Elizabeth, and Siegfried Hecker. “Meet Me in Pyongyang: An Interview With Siegfried Hecker”. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 9, 2018. https://thebulletin.org/2018/03/meet-me-in-pyongyang-an-interview-with-siegfried-hecker/.
• Eaves, Elizabeth, and Siegfried Hecker. “North Korean Nuclear Test Shows Steady Advance: Interview With Siegfried Hecker”. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, September 7, 2017. http://thebulletin.org/north-korean-nuclear-test-shows-steady-advance-interview-siegfried-hecker11091.
• Eaves, Elizabeth, and Siegfried Hecker. “Talk to North Korea to Avert a Nuclear Disaster: An Interview With Siegfried Hecker”. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August 7, 2017. http://thebulletin.org/talk-north-korea-avert-nuclear-disaster-interview-siegfried-hecker10996.
• Fyffe, Steve. “CISAC Nuclear Expert Analyzes North Korean Hydrogen Bomb Claims”. CISAC, Freeman Spogli Institute, January 7, 2016. https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/news/cisac-nuclear-expert-analyzes-north-korean-hydrogen-bomb-claims.
• Uria, Isabella, and Siegfried Hecker. “Hecker Q&A on Estimates of North Korea’s Nuclear Arsenal”. CISAC, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, April 24, 2015. https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/news/hecker-qa-estimates-north-korea%E2%80%99s-nuclear-arsenal.
• Day, Charles. “Visiting North Korea: Q&A With Siegfried Hecker”. https://doi.org/DOI:10.1063/PT.4.0324.