N. Korea claims to have 'completed' nuclear program

By Jun Ji-hye

The North Korean Embassy in Russia claimed Tuesday that the North has “basically completed” development of its nuclear weapons, saying it will continue a qualitative and quantitative buildup of them, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

In a statement, the embassy quoted the North’s nuclear weapons institute as saying that the latest nuclear test conducted earlier this month was a final check of the structures, features and performance of a nuclear warhead that had been standardized to be mounted onto a ballistic missile.

“This is an expression of confidence in the fact that the country has basically completed the study and the development of nuclear weapons,” the statement read.

It also noted that the Kim Jong-un regime has completed the development of an essential part of the technologies used in the production of various nuclear fission materials and secured the ability to produce as many miniaturized and powerful nuclear warheads as it wants.

“We will continue to take measures for the qualitative and quantitative buildup of North Korea’s nuclear forces, designed to protect the country’s dignity, the right to exist and peace in the light of the increasing U.S. threat.”

The statement stressed that the regime had so far disclosed details of the nuclear tests through state media, but this time, the nuclear weapons institute, which has kept strictly silent, officially released them. This proves the regime’s confidence in its nuclear program, it added.

On Sept. 9, the North conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test, claiming to have successfully detonated a miniaturized warhead that could be mounted on a ballistic missile.

The test followed a series of launches of short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles in recent months.

In the wake of the test, observers here say the North is now apparently in the final stages of completing its nuclear and missile programs.

US to speed up THAAD deployment

In response to the ever-growing threats from the North, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said ― also on Tuesday ― that Washington intends to deploy a U.S. anti-missile system on South Korean soil “on an accelerated basis” and “as soon as possible.”

Russel made the remark during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, claiming that it is important to upgrade defensive systems to cope with the North Korean threats.

“I can’t speak as assistant secretary of state to the timeline. Perhaps, our colleagues in the Defense Department and the Republic of Korea can. But given the accelerating pace of North Korea’s missile tests, we intend to deploy on an accelerated basis, I would say, as soon as possible,” Russel said in response to a question about whether the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) can be deployed by next year.

He also stressed that THAAD is a defensive system aimed only at coping with North Korea in an effort to ease China’s concerns that the battery’s radar could be used to spy on its military capability.

“This is a defensive measure aimed not at China, but at North Korea. It is a defense based decision, not a political decision,” he said.

In July, South Korea and the United States announced the deployment of a THAAD battery in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province, by the end of next year to better deter threats from the isolated state.

Russel also added that Washington is working hard with Seoul and Tokyo to cut off sources of income for Pyongyang, including from its the coal trade and labor exports as part of the allies’ efforts to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear program.