North Korea seeks to produce material for nukes: UN

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. File pic/AFP

North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes including its capability to produce nuclear device components in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, U.N. experts have said in a new report.

The panel of experts said in the executive summary of the report obtained Saturday night by The Associated Press that there was "a marked acceleration" of Pyongyang's testing and demonstration of new short-range and possibly medium-range missiles through January, "incorporating both ballistic and guidance technologies and using both solid and liquid propellants."

"New technologies tested included a possible hypersonic guiding warhead and a maneuverable re-entry vehicle," the panel said. North Korea also demonstrated "increased capabilities for rapid deployment, wide mobility (including at sea), and improved resilience of its missile forces."

The experts said North Korea "continued to seek material, technology and know-how for these programmes overseas, including through cyber means and joint scientific research."

A year ago, the panel said North Korea had modernized its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles by flaunting United Nations sanctions, using cyberattacks to help finance its programmes and continuing to seek material and technology overseas for its arsenal including in Iran.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever