North Korea planning to complete nuclear development in 2017

Seoul

NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is planning a "prime-time" nuclear weapons push in 2017 to take advantage of leadership transitions in South Korea and the United States, a high-ranking defector said on Tuesday.

In his first press conference since fleeing his post as North Korea's deputy ambassador to Britain in August, Thae Yong-Ho said Mr Kim had issued a directive at a rare ruling party congress in May to "complete" nuclear development by the end of next year.