A secret United Nations report stated that North Korea is continuing to develop its nuclear weapons program, and that it may have developed nuclear devices for installation on the warheads of its ballistic missiles.
The report, prepared by independent experts who monitor the implementation of UN sanctions on North Korea and submitted Monday to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee, said several countries believed that the six previous nuclear tests by Pyongyang had probably helped them to develop mini nuclear devices.
The report, seen by Reuters, added that North Korea continues to develop its nuclear program, including the production of highly enriched uranium, and the construction of a light-water reactor.
According to the same source, a member of the Sanctions Committee concluded that Pyongyang continues to produce nuclear weapons.
The UN report also stated that North Korea, which has not conducted nuclear tests since September 2017, may re-establish the necessary infrastructure within 3 months to conduct a new nuclear test at the main test site in Bong-ri, as it only destroyed tunnels entrances to the site .
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said last week that his country’s nuclear weapons were ensuring its security, reiterating that it would not give up its arsenal.
It is noteworthy that Kim and US President Donald Trump held talks in 2018, in an attempt to reach an agreement to dismantle Pyongyang's nuclear weapons in exchange for lifting the UN sanctions it has been subject to since 2006 in response to its nuclear tests.