North Korea says it can miniaturize nuclear weapons

Kim Hjelmgaard | USA TODAY

North Korea claimed Wednesday that it has developed the technology to miniaturize nuclear weapons, the rogue nation's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.

"Our means of nuclear strikes have been already miniaturized and diversified a long time ago," North Korea's National Defense Commission said in a statement, without elaborating on the timing of its reported advance in technology.

The comments were carried by South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The statement by North Korea said the new weapons, small enough to fit on a missile, showed that the country's pursuit of nuclear weapons would continue despite objections by the international community.

North Korea, a highly secretive country, routinely makes assertions about its military capabilities and political machinations that are extremely difficult to independently confirm. Its nuclear ambitions violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The announcement nonetheless comes after North Korea said it recently test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile and will add to concerns over Pyongyang's stated desire to boost its self-defense with nuclear weapons.

In a separate development Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said North Korea cancelled an invitation extended to him to visit a business park. Ban, speaking in Seoul, said no reason was given for the cancellation.