NOKOR DEVELOPING TACTICAL NUKES, MISSILES AND SUBS

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country is developing new weaponry including a nuclear-powered submarine, tactical nuclear weapons and advanced warheads designed to penetrate missile defense systems, Joshua Berlinger and Yoonjung Seo reported for Reuters.

Kim said North Korea is pushing ahead with the armaments to deter the United States, comments that appear to show President Donald Trump's strategy of high-level engagement with Pyongyang -- including three in-person meetings between Trump and Kim -- failed to convince Pyongyang to stop its pursuit of a modern nuclear arsenal.

"No matter who is in power in the US, the true nature and the true spirit of the anti-North Korea policy will never change," Kim said, according to the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"The development of nuclear weapons be pushed forward without interruption."

The projects, according to Kim, are at various stages of development. He said "multiple-warhead guidance technology" is in the final stage, while studies in hypersonic flight that could be applied to new ballistic missiles "are complete," with North Korea "making preparations for their test and production" -- a possible sign that Pyongyang may be on the verge of resuming the type of missile testing anathema to Washington and Seoul.

Improvements in tactical nuclear weapons -- which are meant to be used at shorter range and are often less destructive than strategic nuclear weapons -- are also being finalized, Kim said. Nuclear-powered submarine research appears to be the least far along. Research into these subs is complete and in "the final stages of examination," Kim said.

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