The Defense Intelligence Agency made a rather frightening discovery in its confidential assessment of North Korea's military capabilities. The report, the contents of which were revealed Tuesday, shows that North Korea has achieved a "technically demanding feat."
North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, crossing a key threshold on the path to becoming a full-fledged nuclear power, U.S. intelligence officials have concluded in a confidential assessment.
The ability to miniaturize weapons suggests that North Korea has taken a big step toward becoming a nuclear power.
The U.S. also concluded that Kim Jong Un is now in possession of 60 nuclear weapons and North Korea is "outpacing expectations" in its effort to build an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the American mainland. It is all happening much more rapidly than analysts predicted, The Washington Post notes.
North Korea also recently tested yet another ballistic missile, leading to new United Nations sanctions. Kim Jong Un's regime pledged to respond a "thousands-fold" to the sanctions, which placed a ban on coal and other exports and could end up costing North Korea $3 billion.
UN ambassador Nikki Haley told the regime this week that the international community is sick of their reckless behavior. The sanctions were a "gut punch," Haley declared.
The Trump administration has indicated, however, that more than a hit to the stomach may be on its way. Vice President Mike Pence declared in recent months that "all options are on the table" in regards to the U.S. response. The time for "strategic patience," he said, is over.