THE world is edging towards a nuclear war as Russia and China are modernizing ballistic missiles and developing new submarines, according to a bombshell Pentagon report.

Washington has tried to reduce their number of nukes but foreign powers have moved in the opposite direction, the 2020 dossier reveals.

It states: "No potential adversary has reduced either the role of nuclear weapons in its national security strategy or the number of nuclear weapons it fields.”

The report warns of potential regional conflicts involving nukes in several parts of the world.

Government officials say Russia’s strategic nuclear modernization has increased meaning Moscow can expand its warhead numbers, according to the report.

And, Beijing is reportedly considering whether to develop autonomous nuclear weapons systems, the New York Post reports.

Ambassador Robert Wood told reporters Thursday: “If they were to develop, these kinds of weapons and aerial systems, this has the potential to change the strategic stability environment in a dynamic way.”

North Korean officials have fast-tracked testing of missiles capable of reaching American shores while Iran reportedly has the technology and capacity to create a nuclear weapon within a year, MailOnline reports.

Pyongyang reportedly poses the “most immediate and dire proliferation threat” to the international order, according to the defense report.

And, officials are concerned about Iran’s “aggressive strategy” as it could destabilize relations in the Middle East and experts are suspicious about Tehran's commitment to reducing their nuclear arsenal.

The report recommended: “Flexible and limited US nuclear response options can play an important role in restoring deterrence following limited adversary nuclear escalation.”

And Washington’s nuclear program must only be used in “extreme circumstances” and government officials must communicate in ways that are understood by rogue powers.

The publication of the report comes as the US and Russia extended the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty for five years.

Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019.

The pact mandated the US and Soviet Union to eliminate nuclear missiles that had ranges of 500-5,500km.

Last month, Biden said “not on my watch” when it comes to Iran developing nuclear weapons.

In a meeting with outgoing Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, he said: “What I can say to you, Iran will never get a nuclear weapon on my watch.”

Biden is being pressured by Congressional Democrats to rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that former president Donald Trump pulled out of.

Israel and the US have worked together to slow down Iran's nuclear program, including efforts to destroy their stockpiles.

Meanwhile, Russia recently tested a highly secretive new nuke and military jets were seen carrying hypersonic missiles as war games intensified in the Black Sea.

An unnamed Kremlin defense source said the launch took place in mid-June.

Reports say the missile was developed by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology and comes in a mobile variant and silo variant.

Mobile systems enjoy several advantages as they are harder to locate, track, target, and destroy, according to Russian press agency TASS.

It came as Moscow vowed to sink British warships if they sailed too close to Crimea.

And, it was reported Russian fighter jets and bombers had conducted combat training flights in the eastern Mediterranean. 

The MIG-31K jets carried deadly Dagger hypersonic missiles – one of Putin’s new-age weapons.

They have a range of  1,250 miles and have no match in the West, according to Moscow. 

North Korean despot Kim Jong-un warned that he is preparing for a military confrontation with Washington and has vowed to build more nukes, defying Joe Biden.

The dictator warned his people that North Korea should be ready for “dialogue and in particular confrontation with America”.

He blasted Washington’s approach to North Korea as he set out his “strategic and tactical counteraction with the US".

Pyongyang had already accused Biden of pursuing a "hostile policy".

He blasted the Democrat's vow to address the nuclear threat "through diplomacy as well as stern deterrence".

The dictator's comments came after the US urged the North to abandon its nuclear missiles program.

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