Material is there, experts say, but progress unclear
North Korea declared it possesses nuclear weapons in a foreign ministry statement on February 10, 2005, but its true nuclear capabilities remain for the most part unknown. What is clear is that Pyongyang continues to build up its nuclear capabilities. By 2002, U.S. intelligence officials assumed that Pyongyang had enough material to make two nuclear bombs. Now they place the figure around 12. Non-governmental researchers say the number is even higher. In a research paper titled "The North Korean Plutonium Stock Mid-2006" issued in June by the Institute for International Science and Security, David Albright writes that the North has produced between 43 and 61 kilograms of plutonium, and of that, it has reprocessed between 20 and 53 kilograms to a grade that can be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. That is enough to produce between 4 and 13 nuclear warheads. In addition to its plutonium extraction activities, the North’s uranium enrichment program continues to be of interest, ever since it became the subject of the "second nuclear crisis" of 2002.The North is believed to have performed over 100 "high explosive" tests since the 1980s. Such tests are an essential step in the process of developing nuclear weapons. There were aproximately 70 high explosive tests between 1983 and 1993 in the Yongbyon area, and three or four in Kusong, North Pyongan Province. Intelligence experts say the tests have continued since then at Kilchu. However, as of yet no evidence has been discovered that indicates the North has succeeded at reducing its nuclear technology into something the size of a warhead that could be loaded onto one of its long range Taepodong-2 missiles.
