Despite all the attention being given to North Korea's nuclear capabilities, the dictatorship's chemical and biological weapons pose a far greater threat to the world, according to retired general Ants Laaneots.

North Korea has a single, 5-megawatt nuclear reactor that operated for 21 years before it was closed in 2007 due to international pressure, and its cooling system was destroyed in 2008, Estonia's former commander in chief told ETV.

Experts estimate that the country has produced 42-67 kilograms of plutonium, which can be used to make 6-8 explosive nuclear devices, but American experts are confident that the country does not currently have the technology to compress the plutonium to install it in a warhead, Laaneots said.

"Much more dangerous are the large chemical resources that North Korea has. We know that they have a biological weapon as well," Laaneots said, adding that any type of weapons of mass destruction could prompt a nuclear retaliation from the US and the West.

Citing Russian experts, Laaneots said use of weapons of mass destruction by North Korea could lead to the country being wiped out in a week or two.

"But on a practical level, we are all of the same opinion, that this is all just a bluff from North Korea, because the capabilities that they are trying to demonstrate on the political level and on screen are nonexistent now and for the time being," Laaneots said.

"Another issue is whether any conflicts using conventional weapons could take place, as they have before, because North Korea's armed forces are, nevertheless, massive. With a population of 24.5 million and an army of 1.19 million, such per capita firepower is unparalleled in the world," Laaneots said.

The retired general also discussed the broader geopolitical implications of the developing situation: "I doubt that anything specific can be said about what will happen at the moment, but of course everyone is concerned. It is important to note that China, North Korea's closest ally, is also concerned, as is Russia, of course. Whereas their concern is a bit different than that regarding the Korean Gulf. China and Russia understand very well that if North Korea has ambitions to acquire nuclear weapons, it will also give South Korea and Japan the green light for acquiring nuclear weapons. Currently China and Russia look down upon South Korea and Japan, and have a relatively free hand with regard to them."