North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un should thank India – Pakistan missile for his country getting nuclear power. In 1962, Soviet Union helped North Korea set up its first nuclear research facility - Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center. That reactor was used to produce radioactive isotopes for medicinal, industrial and research purposes. North Korea may have tried to explore weapon capabilities with whatever technology Russians gave them. But what definitely put North Korea's nuclear weapons' development on track was proliferation by Pakistan. What drove Pakistan to join hands with North Korea was India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program in 1983 aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in the development and production of wide range of ballistic missiles. Prithvi was the first missile to be developed under the program. Developed as a battlefield missile, Prithvi could carry a nuclear warhead in its role as a tactical nuclear weapon. At that time, Pakistan did not have a missile to match Prithvi's striking capabilities so they approached North Korea for Nodong missiles. In exchange, North Korea demanded centrifuge technology from Pakistan. A deal was struck and North Korea and Pakistan began to share missile expertise in 1992.
