Documents highlight N. Korea nuke efforts

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BEIJING, July 2 (UPI) -- Internal North Korean government documents say the late Kim Jong Il ordered the development of nuclear weapons during his reign, a Japanese newspaper reported.

The Mainichi Shimbun said Workers' Party of Korea documents obtained by the newspaper show North Korea's intention to enrich uranium for military purposes.

The North Korean government has maintained enrichment activities were for peaceful purposes.

Nineteen pages of WPK documents, produced in February, are believed to have been developed as an educational tool for the party's mid-level career officers, the newspaper said Monday.

The documents, which refer to the North's decision to permit U.S. nuclear experts to visit a uranium enrichment facility in November 2010, say the late North Korean leader gave specific instructions to mass-produce nuclear weapons by enriching uranium using a lightweight centrifuge.

Kim died in December and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong Un.