Nut Kim to go ballistic by ’18: U.S.

NORTH KOREA and the Kim Jong Un regime will likely have a reliable intercontinental ballistic missile next year, according to a report.

The international pariah (photo) was previously thought to be years away from such a nuclear-capable weapon, but a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment reported by the Washington Post says it could be ready and reliable in 2018.

A succession of recent missile tests by North Korea, including an ICBM earlier this month, has accelerated concerns about the regime as a nuclear power.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency started putting together a Cold War-style campaign for nuclear attack preparedness after the July 4 launch.

But the Post reports that North Korea still faces challenges before its long-range missiles are fully operational, including difficulties with the weapons being able to pass through Earth’s upper atmosphere without damaging their payloads.

Unidentified officials have reportedly detected indicators that the Kim regime could test a reentry system this week.

Another challenge is creating a nuclear warhead small enough to put on the missile.

However, the possibility of long-range attacks has ratcheted up pressure on the global community to find a way to curb the authoritarian state’s capability to inflict destruction on others.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Tuesday that a draft resolution on new sanctions is making progress with Chinese diplomats.

North Korea has been under international sanctions since 2006 over its missile and nuclear programs, but has continued developing them.