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U.S. disputes DPRK's capacity to miniaturize nuke weapons

Xinhua, May 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United States on Wednesday cast doubt on Pyongyang's claimed capacity to miniaturize and diversify its stockpiled nuclear weapons.

"Regarding that specific claim of miniaturization, we do not think they have that capacity," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters at a daily news briefing.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said earlier in the day that it has entered the phase of miniaturization and diversification of its nuclear weapons for quite some time, with the successful test-firing of a strategic ballistic missile from a submarine on May 8.

The Asian country also blasted the U.S., Japan and South Korea for their claim that Pyongyang's test-firing of the submarine- launched ballistic missile is a threat and provocation, saying it is the DPRK's right to beef up its defense ability.

"But we do know they're working on developing a number of long- range missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles," Harf said.

"That could eventually threaten our allies, our partners...So that's obviously something we're very concerned about in terms of that capability. We just don't think they have it," she added. Endite