Japan warns DPRK's nuclear weapons programme has 'advanced considerably'

Japan has warned that the threat from Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) nuclear weapons has reached a “new stage” now that it appears to have developed an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the US mainland.

In its defence white paper, Japan’s government said Pyongyang’s weapons programme had “advanced considerably”, despite years of international sanctions designed to stall its ability to develop long-range missiles and nuclear warheads.

While many experts believe the DPRK is several years away from being able to marry a missile with a miniaturised nuclear warhead, Japan said it was “conceivable” that the regime had made progress on this front.

The 563-page white paper, approved by Japan’s cabinet on Tuesday morning, was published less than two weeks after DPRK test-fired its second ICBM, which US experts have said may be able to reach most of the continental United States.

“Since last year, when (DPRK) forcibly implemented two nuclear tests and more than 20 ballistic missile launches, the security threats have entered a new stage,” the report said.

That missile was fired at an extremely lofted angle and landed about 200 kilometers (120 miles) off Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido.

The report was unclear, however, on whether DPRK had acquired the technological know-how to fire a nuclear-tipped missile that would be able to re-enter earth’s atmosphere intact, according to Kyodo news.

The report also cited Pyongyang’s attempts to improve its ability to conduct a surprise attack using solid-fuel missiles, which can be prepared for launch in less time than liquid-fueled rockets and are therefore harder to detect.

(THE GUARDIAN)