North Korea in ‘final stages’ of testing long range missiles

North Korea is in the “final stages” of testing long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, leader Kim Jong-Un said on Sunday, claiming the country had significantly bolstered its nuclear deterred in 2016.

“We are in the final stages of test-launching the intercontinental ballistic missile,” the North Korean leader said in a 30-minute televised New Year's speech, pointing to a string of nuclear and missile tests last year.

Pyongyang had "soared as a nuclear power", he said, adding it was now a "military power of the East that cannot be touched by even the strongest enemy."

"We have seen marvellous feats for bolstering our military power including the fact that our preparations for test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile is in the final stages," he said.

Kim, who took control of the secretive state following his father's death in 2011, said in a televised speech: “Research and development of cutting edge arms equipment is actively progressing and ICBM (inter-continental ballistic missile) rocket test launch preparation is in its last stage.”

North Korea conducted two nuclear tests in the past year in pursuit of its goal of developing a weapons system capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead. The latest tests have raised fears that North Korea has made significant nuclear advances.

Analysts are divided over how close Pyongyang is to realising its full nuclear ambitions, especially as it has never successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

But all agree Pyongyang has made enormous strides in that direction since Mr Kim took over as leader from his father, Kim Jong-Il who died in December 2011.

The country has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests. The sanctions were tightened last month after Pyongyang conducted its fifth and largest nuclear test on Sept. 9.

In February, North Korea launched a satellite into space, which was widely seen as a test of long-range ballistic missile technology.

Reuters reported a senior US military official as saying that although North Korea appears able to put a miniaturised nuclear warhead on a missile, the missile re-entry technology necessary for longer range strikes is still a serious obstacle to its weapons development.