The New York Times suggests North Korea may have claimed its progress in experimental uranium enrichment as a means to negotiate with the West.

In a Friday article, the Times noted North Korea’s use of the word “experimental” in its letter to the United Nations Security Council, suggesting the communist state is still short of running a full-scale enrichment program.

The article also pointed out that producing weapons-grade fuel requires costly installation of thousands of centrifuges.

Meanwhile, citing Siegfried Hecker, co-director of Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation, the Washington Post reported North Korea could move forward in developing a nuclear bomb with enriched uranium faster than expected.