Washington, Apr. 12 (ANI): The Pentagon has released a statement playing down a US intelligence report suggesting North Korea has the ability to launch nuclear missiles.
The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Pentagon's in-house spy organisation, reported with 'moderate confidence' that Pyongyang has the technology to fit a nuclear warhead onto a ballistic missile.
According to the Telegraph, the report has not said whether North Korea had actually fitted a missile with a nuclear payload and cautioned that even if it did the weapons would remain unreliable.
The classified report was compiled last month but its contents were made public on Thursday during a congressional hearing by Representative Doug Lamborn, a Republican from Colorado.
Lamborn read from a declassified summary and asked General Martin Dempsey, the US's most senior military officer, to comment on the finding.
George Little, the Pentagon spokesman, said that it would be inaccurate to suggest that the North Korean regime has fully tested, developed, or demonstrated the kinds of nuclear capabilities referenced in the passage.
The US denial was followed quickly by the South Korean defence ministry, which said the North had still not developed a warhead small enough to place on top of a a missile.
According to the report, the DIA is one of a number of US intelligence agencies monitoring North Korea's nuclear progress and it is believed that most of its counterparts remain unconvinced Pyongyang has developed a working weapon. (ANI)
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