Japan has upgraded its estimate of North Korea's nuclear weapons capability in an upcoming annual defense white paper, saying it seems Pyongyang has already achieved the miniaturization of warheads, the Yomiuri newspaper said in an unsourced report Wednesday.
That compares with the assessment in last year's report in which the government said it was possible North Korea had achieved miniaturization, the daily said without citing sources.
The report, to be approved at a Cabinet meeting in mid-September, will maintain the assessment that North Korea's military activities pose a "serious and imminent threat," the Yomiuri said.