NORTH KOREA — Kim Jong-un said on Wednesday at local media that North Korea has developed standardized nuclear warheads “to be fit for ballistic missiles by miniaturizing them”, adding that they can be identified as a “true nuclear deterrent.”
On the same day, the state’s principal newspaper Rodong Sinmun published photographs of what seems to be a mockup of a miniaturized nuclear warhead and pictures of KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to Jun Ji-Hye, the reporter at the South Korea’s diary Korea Times.
U.S. and South Korean authorities have put in doubt the veracity of North Korea’s claims, saying that there is not enough evidence to demonstrate that the country has developed a nuclear warhead that can be fit onto a ballistic missile.
Analysts seem to suggest that Kim Jong-un’s regime is announcing nuclear threats as a response to the sanctions that were carried out by the international community, in order to maintain North Korea’s citizens calmed and avoid conflict.
Menaces come on the same day when the United States and South Korea begin the joint naval drill, which takes place yearly in the country led by Ms. Park Geun-hye. The military practice will involve more than 300,000 Korean troops and 15,000 U.S. personnel, which will conduct several land, sea and air maneuvers.
“The nuclear warheads have been standardized to be fit for ballistic missiles by miniaturizing them. This can be called a true nuclear deterrent.” North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was quoted as saying by the Korea Central News Agency, headquartered in Pyongyang, according to the Korea Times.
Warheads development might not be real
It is recognized that the North Korean regime has developed a nuclear-tipped Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, that can be launched to distances of up to 6,213 miles. According to Kim Jong-un, the country has the necessary technology to put a nuclear weapon on U.S. territory.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense officials said on Wednesday that North Korea’s menaces might not be real. According to the Korea Times, a ministry official said under anonymity that the U.S. and South Korea need to detect “any relevant data” about the subject.
According to U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark Welsh, North Korea is not yet able to fit a nuclear warhead onto a long-range missile because of lack of proper technology. On the other hand, analysts at the Seoul National University stressed that North Korea is paying considerable attention to the U.S.-South Korean drills, said the Korea Times.
North Korea is severely sanctioned after conducting a fourth nuclear test
Wednesday last week, the United Nations Security Council imposed severe sanctions on the Kim Jong-un’s regime, under the Resolution 2270, after the country conducted a nuclear test on January 6 and a long-range rocket launch on February 7.
“This resolution contains the toughest set of sanctions imposed by the Security Council in more than two decades, and includes mandatory cargo inspections, sectoral sanctions on North Korean trade in natural resources…” said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a statement.
Source: Korea Times