North Korea can likely arm missiles with nuclear warheads: UN

Pyongyang steals $315m in virtual assets to fund weapons development

A missile launch by North Korea in March 2021. The country likely has the ability to mount missiles with nuclear warheads, a U.N. panel says. © KCNA via Reuters

HIONA SHIRAIWA and KAORI YOSHIDA, Nikkei staff writers

April 1, 2021 07:10 JST

UNITED NATIONS -- North Korea has likely developed the ability to mount nuclear warheads onto its intercontinental ballistic missiles, a United Nations panel warned in a Wednesday report, as the country continues to advance its weapons program funded by cryptocurrency heists, smuggling operations and more.

"It is highly likely that a nuclear device can be mounted on the intercontinental ballistic missiles, and it is also likely that a nuclear device can be mounted on the medium-range ballistic missiles and short-range ballistic missiles," concluded the panel, which reports to the U.N. Security Council.