South Korea’s defence chief today said North Korea was believed to have one or two nuclear weapons, amid growing concerns the communist regime may be preparing to test an atomic bomb for the first time.

South Korea is researching and developing cruise-missile technology, the defence minister said in a statement today.

A top Pentagon official said today that a North Korean missile launch would be “a provocation and a dangerous action” that would lead to the United States imposing “some cost” on North Korea.

A North Korean missile launch is not imminent, South Korea’s defence minister said today amid heightened tension in the region over a possible test-fire of a long-range missile by the communist nation.