Nuclear program of North Korea

U.N. experts say North Korea has increased imports and exports of banned and restricted goods such as coal and petroleum products as it continues to enhance its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programs in violation of sanctions.

China and Russia on Dec. 16 proposed the U.N. Security Council lift a ban on North Korea exporting statues, seafood and textiles, according to a draft resolution seen by Reuters, in a move Russia said is aimed at encouraging talks between Washington and Pyongyang.

North Korea fired two projectiles, which Japanese authorities said appeared to be ballistic missiles, into the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan on Oct. 31, according to the Japanese coast guard and South Korea's military.

North Korea continued to ramp up its weapons demonstrations by firing two presumed short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Aug. 6 while lashing out at the United States and South Korea for continuing military exercises that the North says could derail fragile nuclear diplomacy.

North Korea fired what appeared to be short-range ballistic missiles twice on Aug. 2 into the sea off its eastern coast in its third round of weapons tests in just over a week, South Korea's military and presidential office said.

North Korea has continued to produce bomb fuel while in denuclearization talks with the United States and may have produced enough in the past year to add as many as seven nuclear weapons to its arsenal, according to a study released just weeks before a planned second summit between the North Korean leader and U.S. President Donald Trump, Reuters reported.

BBC - Reports that North Korea is continuing its weapons programme, despite pledges to denuclearise, have cast doubt on its sincerity in peace talks.

The recent reports, based on US intelligence leaks, suggest the country is still upgrading its nuclear enrichment sites, among other activities. So what's actually going on?

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will visit Beijing next week to resume talks with Chinese officials, state media said on May 25, as the two sides seek to avoid a trade war.

South Korea's foreign minister has said that North Korea's leader has "given his word" that he is committed to denuclearization, a prime condition for a potential summit with President Donald Trump in May.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Australia said on Sunday they held “grave concerns” about escalating tensions caused by North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes.