145;N Korea has enough for 7 bombs146;

North Korea might have extracted as much as 50 kg of plutonium and is working to miniaturise nuclear devices to fit on ballistic missiles, a South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday, quoting from a Defence Ministry report.

North Korea might have extracted as much as 50 kg of plutonium and is working to miniaturise nuclear devices to fit on ballistic missiles, a South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday, quoting from a Defence Ministry report. That amount would be enough for up to seven nuclear weapons, the report said.

North Korea probably has been able to make a nuclear bomb weighing about two or three tonnes but needs to get them under one tonne to be able to deliver them via missiles, the report said.

The Defence Ministry declined to confirm the report, which was released to the media by lawmaker Song Young-sun on Thursday, but did confirm that a report on the subject was reviewed by the Defence Minister and commanding officers in a meeting on October 10.

8220;It is estimated that the North has extracted up to 50 kg of plutonium,8221; the report said. 8220;7 to 8 kg of plutonium is needed for one nuclear weapon,8221; it said.

The lawmaker said the report was based on ministry estimates of reported North Korean nuclear activities.

South Korea also announced today it would ban the entry of North Koreans who are part of Pyongyang8217;s nuclear weapons programme, the first step taken by Seoul to adhere to UN sanctions.

The decision came after North Korea said any action by Seoul under the UN resolution would 8220;drive the inter-Korean relations to a catastrophe8221; and would be 8220;a grave provocative act8221; which could lead to war.

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US President George W Bush said Pyongyang8217;s threats against Seoul were aimed only at dividing the five nations that have been in talks with North Korea on ending its nuclear programme.

8220;The leader of North Korea likes to threaten,8221; Bush told a news conference on Wednesday. 8220;What he8217;s doing is just testing the will of the five countries that are working together to convince him there is a better way forward for his people.8221;

He also reiterated that the US would keep up diplomatic efforts to end the crisis. But other US officials have not ruled out other options.