North Korea has been preparing for nuclear tests during the first six months of this year, according to an extract from a confidential United Nations report seen by Reuters.

Independent sanctions monitors told the UN Security Council North Korea Sanctions Committee that “work at the Bangi-ri nuclear test site paves the way for additional nuclear testing to develop nuclear weapons.”

“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continued to develop its fissile material production capacity at the Yongbyon facility,” observers wrote. Yongbyon is North Korea’s main nuclear facility and operates the first nuclear reactor.

Pyongyang’s mission to the UN in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the organization’s report.

The United States has long warned that North Korea is ready to conduct a seventh nuclear test and says it will again press for tougher UN sanctions if the test is carried out.

UN monitors also said investigations have shown Pyongyang to be responsible for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of crypto assets in at least one major hack. Earlier, observers accused North Korea of ​​carrying out cyberattacks to finance its nuclear and missile programs.

Observers wrote that Pyongyang continues to “continue to engage in other cyber activities aimed at stealing information and more traditional means of obtaining valuable information and materials for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s prohibited programs, including weapons of mass destruction.”

The UN Security Council banned North Korea from conducting nuclear tests and launching ballistic missiles for years, and tightened sanctions over the years in an attempt to cut off funding for these programs.