The Pentagon and the South Korean Ministry of Defense have cast doubt on claims that the DPRK has nuclear weapons that can be delivered to a target by a ballistic missile.

US defense spokesman George Little said: “It would be wrong to suggest that the North Korean regime has developed, tested or demonstrated nuclear weapons referred to in the passages mentioned (of the report - RBC note).”

A Pentagon Intelligence Agency document cited by the media claimed that North Korea has nuclear weapons that can be transported using a ballistic missile.

A similar position was taken in Seoul. According to South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min Seok, North Korea conducted three tests, but there are doubts that during this time it was able to reduce the weight and size of the nuclear charge to the required extent, Reuters reports .

The situation on the Korean Peninsula escalated sharply in February 2013, after Pyongyang tested nuclear weapons for the third time in recent history. The DPRK made threats against South Korea and the United States, while simultaneously starting preparations for testing ballistic missiles.

In response, Seoul and Washington stepped up efforts to create a missile defense system and signed an agreement on assistance in the event of hostilities. After this, the DPRK announced that it was in a state of war with South Korea, and diplomatic missions of foreign states in Pyongyang were recommended to evacuate.

According to analysts, North Korea has a nuclear arsenal of up to eight warheads. However, the republic does not have the appropriate missile launchers, which is confirmed by today’s statements from Seoul and Washington.

Due to rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, China has closed its border with North Korea to tourists. From April 10, Chinese travel agencies are prohibited from transporting tourists to North Korean territory through the Dandong checkpoint. The restrictions affected only tourist groups and did not affect those crossing the border on business trips.

Today it became known that Seoul has taken the initiative to hold negotiations with Pyongyang. There has been no official reaction from the DPRK yet.

Seoul and Washington doubted North Korea's nuclear potential