North Korea has accused the UN agency responsible for regulating atomic energy of being a puppet of hostile countries after a new report said the isolated nation's nuclear weapons stockpile was breaking international law.

Pyongyang has gradually built an atomic stockpile after abandoning the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003, and has tested several nuclear bombs in the years since.

Since Kim Jong Un took over from his father as the country's supreme leader, North Korea's military has made rapid strides in its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, and has been subjected to increasingly strict international sanctions as a result.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, whose inspectors have not been allowed into the country for more than a decade, said Wednesday that Pyongyang's weapons programme was "deeply regrettable."

North Korea's nuclear activities "remain a cause for serious concern," said agency chief Rafael Mariano Grossi in a report to the UN General Assembly.

Pyongyang's ambassador to the UN hit back later in the same forum, telling other diplomats that the IAEA's report was "grossly distorted."

"The IAEA is no more than a political tool of the Western countries," he said, adding that the body was "a marionette dancing to the tune of the hostile forces" against North Korea.

Nuclear talks between North Korea and the US have been deadlocked since the collapse of a summit between Kim and President Donald Trump in Hanoi early last year.

North Korea is widely believed to have continued to develop its arsenal -- which it says it needs to protect itself from a US invasion -- throughout the discussions.

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

South Korean military captures North Korean crossing border
Seoul (AFP) Nov 4, 2020
A North Korean man was captured by South Korea's military on Wednesday after crossing the inter-Korean border, Seoul said. The man was identified by Seoul only as a North Korean male, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. Investigations will be conducted "in cooperation with related agencies for details", it added, including whether the man sought to defect to the South. No unusual activity of the North's military has been detected, it said. Last year, a North Korean soldier ma ... read more