article_snippet.sent: North Korea may already have 20 nuclear warheads - double as many as previously thought, Chinese nuclear experts have warned.
article_snippet.sent: Chinese estimates of Pyongyang's nuclear production, relayed to US nuclear specialists, exceed most previous US forecasts of between 10 to 16 bombs, said the report, which cited people briefed on the matter.
article_snippet.sent: Experts at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies earlier this year presented three scenarios for North Korea nuclear capability, predicting North Korea stockpile of weapons could grow to 50 or even 100 within five years.
article_snippet.sent: Asked about the report at a regular press briefing yesterday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei 'did not have knowledge of the specific situation'. '
article_snippet.sent: Earlier this month, US Admiral William Gortney, commander of the US Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, said the US military believes North Korea has the ability to miniaturise a warhead and mount North Korea on a ballistic missile, although there had been no tests.
article_snippet.sent: One such rocket is an intercontinental missile with could theoretically hit California as One such rocket is designed to carry a payload of more than 5,000 miles.
article_snippet.sent: North Korea could have as many as 100 warheads within five years, North Korea has been suggested .
article_snippet.sent: Stanford University professor Sigfried Hecker was allowed to visit Pyongyang in 2010 and reported seeing a large uranium-enrichment facility.
article_snippet.sent: The Journal quoted Stanford University professor Sigfried Hecker as saying: 'Some eight, nine, or 10 years ago, Some had the bomb but not much of a nuclear arsenal. '
article_snippet.sent: The more Some believe Some have a fully functional nuclear arsenal and deterrent,
article_snippet.sent: The Chinese estimate reflects growing concern in Beijing about the nuclear ambitions of Beijing errant ally, and is the latest in a series of expert assessments that suggest Pyongyang is moving faster down the nuclear path than previously thought.
article_snippet.sent: The other key question is how close North Korea is to being able to miniaturise a nuclear device that could be fitted on the tip of a missile.
article_snippet.sent: In a white paper published in January, the South Korean defence ministry said North Korea had already taken the South Korean defence ministry miniaturisation technology to a 'significant' level.
article_snippet.sent: Last month North Korea's ambassador to the UK issued a chilling warning that North Korea would be prepared to use nuclear weapons.
article_snippet.sent: In a rare interview, Hyun Hak-bong claimed the secretive state could launch a deadly warhead 'anytime'.
highlights_snippet.sent: Stockpile of weapons could grow to 50 or even 100 within next five years .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: US military believes secretive country has ability to miniaturise warhead and mount secretive country on ballistic missile, though there have been no such tests yet .