WASHINGTON, April 28: The United States is coming to the conclusion that North Korea could have at least eight nuclear weapons instead of possibly two, the Washington Post newspaper said on Wednesday.

The revised estimate, to be included in a report to be completed within a month , is based on a detailed analysis of plutonium products found on clothing worn by an unofficial US delegation that was allowed to visit North Korean nuclear facilities several months ago, US officials preparing the report said.

Up to now, the United States estimated that Pyongyang had developed enough weapons grade material at the nuclear facilities it reopened last year to make possibly two nuclear devices.

US intelligence officials have also concluded that a separate North Korean uranium-enrichment programme will be operational by 2007. -AFP