North Korea May Really Have Nuclear Missiles, Intelligence Report Says

While many continue to cast doubt on North Korea's nuclear capabilities, a recent Pentagon report determined with "moderate confidence" that Pyongyang may already possess nukes.

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) threw many into panic Thursday when he read a brief passage from a Defense Intelligence Agency report on North Korea at a hearing in the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee stating the DIA believed Pyongyang already had nuclear weapons. However, officials now say that the document, "Dynamic Threat Assessment 8099: North Korea Nuclear Weapons Program (March 2013)," is merely a "tentative assessment" of the situation. One top intelligence official said that in reality, even if the report is accurate, it's extremely unlikely that any North Korean warhead mounted on a missile would be reliable.

The passage read by Rep. Lamborn was never meant to be shared with the public as it was "erroneously marked as unclassified," and and the assertions made in the report are not shared by the entirety of the U.S. intelligence community, said James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence.

"I would add that the statement read by the Member is not an Intelligence Community assessment. Moreover, North Korea has not yet demonstrated the full range of capabilities necessary for a nuclear armed missile," said Clapper.

Pentagon press secretary George Little also cautioned the public to not read too much into the report. "It would be inaccurate to suggest that the North Korean regime has fully tested, developed or demonstrated the kinds of nuclear capabilities referenced in the passage," Little said.

South Korea's defense ministry was similarly incredulous about the report, doubting Pyongyang actually possesses the ability to produce a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on a missile.

"Our military's assessment is that the North has not yet miniaturized," said ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok.

"North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests but there is doubt whether it is at the stage where they can reduce the weight and miniaturize to mount on a missile."

Many analysts believe North Korea's nearly-endless flood of aggressive actions is meant to pressure the U.S. into "disarmament-for-aid" discussions and strengthen its people's devotion to new leader Kim Jong Un by showing he is a powerful military commander. Some also note that it's likely the majority of Pyongyang's threats are merely attempts to feel out, or intimidate South Korea's recently elected - and thus untested - president, and for Kim Jong Un - also a fairly new leader - to prove his mettle to an inert national audience.

North Korea has made a point in recent months of displaying its military brawn through open threats aimed at the U.S. and South, provocative military exercises aimed at South Korean and U.S. targets, and more. North Korea has continued to ratchet up its aggressive rhetoric on a near-daily basis ever since its third nuclear test launch in February.

North Korea declared the country had "powerful striking means" set on standby Thursday, a not so subtle suggestion it was preparing to test launch a medium-range missile. Pyongyang is planning to launch a medium-range Musadan missile "any day," according to South Korean and U.S. defense officials. South Korea said launching a Musadan missile, which is ballistic, would be a direct violation of the United Nations Security Council sanction that bans Pyongyang from any ballistic activity.

Experts on the region aren't convinced North Korea will follow through on its promises to engage the South in a full-scale attack such as the instigation that began the Korean War in 1950. However, analysts remain concerned the heightened tensions could pressure North Korea into a "skirmish," which could potentially develop into a legitimate conflict.

"North Korea has been, with its bellicose rhetoric, with its actions ... skating very close to a dangerous line," said U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Washington. "Their actions and their words have not helped defuse a combustible situation."