SEOUL – North Korea told state media on Wednesday that it has the capability to miniaturize nuclear bombs, which would allow Kim Jong-un’s regime to affix the devices to missiles.

The National Defense Commission claimed that it can defend the country with nuclear warheads small enough to be mounted on missiles, according to a statement published by the North Korean news agency KCNA.

North Korea has already reached the production stage of the small and diversified atomic weapons, the commission confirmed in the statement.

Pyongyang stressed that their short, medium and long-range missiles have reached the highest level of precision and intelligence.

The new development, along with progress in atomic and missile technologies, is a part of Kim Jong-un’s political strategy that includes strengthening its power of military dissuasion and economic growth.

North Korea has carried out three nuclear tests since 2006, but has yet to show its miniaturized nuclear bomb capability, while experts have different opinions on the matter.

The Center for Foreign Policy director at the Asan Institute, Bong Young-shik, told Efe that Kim’s regime “has made constant technological progress to miniaturize atomic warheads, but we don’t know how long it will take as there are no conclusive indications.”

The United States, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan have urged North Korea to abandon their nuclear arms development program, but the regime has instead insisted on strengthening it, considering it to be the best form of defense against a possible U.S. attack.

Nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 led the U.N. Security Council to impose heavy sanctions against North Korea.