Report: N. Korea has ‘probably’ developed mini nuclear warheads that fit into missiles

North Korea is rocketing ahead with its atomic weapons programme despite UN sanctions, and the country has ‘probably developed miniaturized nuclear devices to fit into the warheads of its ballistic missiles.’ So thinks a panel of experts reporting to the UN Security Council.

Their confidential report, seen by Reuters and other news agencies, was submitted to the 15-member UN Security Council North Korea sanctions committee on Monday. It adds that North Korea is continuing to expand its nuclear arsenal and is illegally importing refined petroleum products in excess of its annual UN quota.

‘The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is continuing its nuclear program, including the production of highly enriched uranium and construction of an experimental light water reactor,’ Reuters quoted the report as saying. ‘A Member State assessed that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is continuing production of nuclear weapons,’ the report added.

It said that one unidentified country had assessed that North Korea ‘may seek to further develop miniaturisation in order to allow incorporation of technological improvements such as penetration aid packages or, potentially, to develop multiple warhead systems.’

The UN experts said North Korea is violating sanctions, including ‘through illicit maritime exports of coal, though it suspended these temporarily between late January and early March 2020’ due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The experts also said that Pyongyang has generated an estimated $2 billion through sophisticated and widespread cyberattacks to steal from banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. They warned that these attacks are likely to continue.

‘The Panel continues to assess that virtual asset service providers and virtual assets will continue to remain lucrative targets for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to generate revenue, as well as mining cryptocurrencies,’ the report said.