The Possible Impact of a US Nuclear Strike on Russia, North Korea, and China

US Nuclear Strike

The United States has found itself involved in several global conflicts while grappling with rising tensions, particularly with China.

The increasing friction, mainly over trade, has come amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which has heightened concerns about the potential for nuclear warfare. As tensions escalate, the prospect of nuclear conflict remains a significant source of global anxiety.

In light of these growing concerns, Newsweek, a US-based magazine, explored the potential consequences of a nuclear strike on the capitals of three key countries: North Korea, Russia, and China.

Using maps created by Alex Wellerstein, a professor and historian specializing in nuclear technology, the magazine visualized the catastrophic impact of a hypothetical nuclear attack using the B-83 bomb, the largest weapon currently in the US arsenal.

According to the analysis, the effects of a B-83 nuclear bomb would be devastating, with varying degrees of destruction depending on the distance from the blast’s center. Within a radius of 1.59 square miles, known as the “fireball radius,” everything would be vaporized due to the extreme heat generated by the explosion.

A broader blast damage radius of 67.7 square miles would destroy residential buildings and cause widespread fires, while within the thermal radiation radius of 211 square miles, people could suffer third-degree burns, leading to severe scarring and even amputations.

The blast’s impact would also extend to larger areas. Within the 535-square-mile light blast damage radius, glass windows would shatter, potentially injuring people from flying debris.

For the capitals of the affected nations—Pyongyang, Moscow, and Beijing—the consequences would be catastrophic.

In Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, around 1.33 million people would likely perish, and more than 1.1 million would be injured. The city’s population, on average, has 3.18 million people within the light blast range in any given 24-hour period.

In Moscow, Russia, the situation would be equally dire, with an estimated 1.37 million fatalities and nearly 3.75 million injuries. On average, 10.22 million people in the city would fall within the light blast range of the simulated detonation.

Beijing, China, would also bear the brunt of such an attack, with an estimated 1.55 million deaths and 3.33 million injuries. Approximately 9.04 million people in the city would be exposed to the light blast range during a 24-hour period.

These figures paint a grim picture of the catastrophic impact of a nuclear strike, not only in terms of immediate fatalities but also the long-lasting effects on the affected populations.

The simulations underscore the immense destruction that a nuclear conflict could unleash, highlighting the urgency of addressing these geopolitical tensions and preventing such an outcome.