North Korea: Claims US in Range of its Nukes

(Pyongyang, North Korea) In an editorial, the state news website claims that North Korea is now a "fully independent rocket and nuclear weapons state" which can easily reach the US mainland.

"The United States should be acutely aware that the US mainland is now well within the range of our strategic rockets and nuclear weapons," the editorial said. The piece was signed by a member of the Korean National Peace Committee, a state propaganda body.

Most military experts believe that North Korea has a long way to go before it can develop a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on its long-range Taepodong-2 missile. But North Korea’s third nuclear test last month reportedly involved a smaller device than the previous two, raising concerns that Pyongyang may soon reach the technological breakthrough.

However, Pyongyang must also develop atmospheric re-entry vehicle technology, which is an engineering challenge in itself. Without it, even a small nuclear device would not survive an intercontinental ballistic delivery system.

The Taepodong rocket is also far from perfect, as its only test in 2006 failed.

It must be true. It's on the Internet.