Minister says N. Korea enriching uranium

SEOUL, June 30 (UPI) -- North Korea, under U.N. sanctions for its nuclear tests, may be going ahead with enriching uranium to add to its arsenal.

South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee told a parliament hearing Tuesday the North appeared to be "definitely" pressing ahead with uranium enrichment so it will have another means to build nuclear arms besides plutonium, Yonhap reported.

The United States has always suspected North Korea of running a uranium enrichment program.

A U.N. Security Council resolution tightened sanctions against North Korea in retaliation for its May 25 underground nuclear test and ballistic missile test firings.

The United States has boosted security in Hawaii because of threats that North Korea may be preparing to launch a long-range missile test.