US identifies Iran, North Korea as 'persistent threats' in WMD Strategy

ISTANBUL

The US Defense Ministry described Iran and North Korea as “persistent threats” in its Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction released on Thursday.

“North Korea, Iran, and violent extremist organizations remain persistent threats as they continue to further pursue and develop WMD (weapons of mass destruction),” the Pentagon said in the document.

Also, Russia has been seen as an “acute threat,” and China has remained a “pacing challenge” in the new strategy report.

“The PRC (People's Republic of China) has expanded and modernized nearly every aspect of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with a focus on offsetting US military advantages,” said the report.

Furthermore, it added that China has posed the "most comprehensive and urgent challenge" to the US.

"Russia poses the most acute nuclear, biological, and chemical threat in the near-term and will continue to retain WMD capabilities in the medium and long term," the report further added.

It also stated that Moscow hasn't fully acknowledged the former Soviet program, lacks evidence of halting key activities, and continues to maintain secrecy around potentially dual-use biological research.

“Capability developments provide the DPRK with options for nuclear weapons use at any stage of conflict,” said the document in the North Korea part.

The document also stated that North Korea's improvement in the range of its nuclear capabilities puts the US, regional allies, and partners “at risk.”

“It is assessed that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapons program at this time, but has the capacity to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear device in less than two weeks,” read the document.

The Pentagon has released the WMD document for the first time since 2014.