It's the near future, and North Korea's regime is on the brink of collapse. As rumors swirl of palace coups, forces on both sides of the world's most militarized border are on heightened alert. The U.S. military faces a much bigger problem. Somewhere in the Pacific, a North Korean submarine is believed to be carrying nuclear warheads and the missiles to deliver them. And nobody knows where it is.
It sounds like the plot of a "Hunt for Red October"-style techno-thriller. But if Pyongyang's technicians continue at their current pace, experts say it is becoming ever more likely.
One thing is certain: North Korea is plowing considerable resources into building its nuclear capability. And it is clearly making progress — even if the recent failed missile test shows it still has a long way to go.