Specialists from the DefCon Warning System, a private organisation made up of experts monitoring nuclear threats against the US, said they believed Kim Jong-un was still funding weapons research and had seen no evidence to make them change their minds.
They acknowledged the positive reports coming out of Pyongyang in relation to its nuclear programme and military stance but said “troublesome undercurrents” belied the country’s public presence.
Confirming there were no imminent nuclear threats against the US and leaving the alert at DefCon 5, the group said North Korea appeared willing to accept stronger measures to curb its nuclear programme as well as wanting the US to formally end the Korean War.
It also noted Kim Jong-un did not wheel out his intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at a recent military parade celebrating North Korea’s 70th anniversary.
And it said Washington appears open to Pyongyang’s request for a second summit with Donald Trump and North while recognising South Korea have opened a full-time liaison office at their border.
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But a DefCon report stated: “Despite the movements by North Korea, it is important to remember that experts have noted that the steps North Korea has taken to curb its nuclear programme have been in areas that the country no longer needs to continue nuclear weapons development.
“Additionally, China has steadily loosened restrictions on trade with North Korea in recent months, undercutting US efforts to exert economic pressure on the regime.
“Without evidence to the contrary, the DefCon Warning System believes North Korea is continuing its weapons research.”
The DefCon report also warned Iran had threatened to work with North Korea on the advancement of its nuclear programme if sanctions against the Tehran were not removed.
It said the International Atomic Energy Agency had again reported Iran was still complying with the nuclear deal which Donald Trump walked away from in the summer.
Iran has completed its facility to build advanced centrifuges at Natanz is co-operating closely with Russia in various fields of the nuclear industry.
Russia has announced plans to hold large wargames with China on a regular basis and Ukraine is building a maritime operations centre on its Black Sea coast for use during annual US and Ukrainian military exercises.