North Korea says it can miniaturise n-bombs

Seoul, May 20 (IANS/EFE) North Korea told state media on Wednesday that it has the capability to miniaturise nuclear bombs, which would allow Kim Jong-un's regime to fix the devices to missiles.

The National Defence Commission claimed that it can defend the country with nuclear warheads small enough to be mounted on missiles, according to a statement published by the North Korean news agency KCNA.

North Korea has already reached the production stage of the small and diversified atomic weapons, the commission confirmed in the statement.

Pyongyang stressed that its short, medium and long-range missiles have reached the highest level of precision and intelligence.

The new development, along with progress in atomic and missile technologies, is part of Kim Jong-un's political strategy that includes strengthening its power of military dissuasion and economic growth.

North Korea has carried out three nuclear tests since 2006, but has yet to show its miniaturised nuclear bomb capability, while experts have different opinions on the matter.

Bong Young-shik, director of the Asan Institute at the Centre for Foreign Policy, told Efe news agency that Kim's regime "has made constant technological progress to miniaturise atomic warheads, but we don't know how long it will take as there are no conclusive indications".

The US, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan have urged North Korea to abandon its nuclear arms development programme, but the regime has instead insisted on strengthening it, considering it to be the best form of defence against a possible US attack.

Nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 led the UN Security Council to impose heavy sanctions against North Korea.

--IANS/EFE

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