Iran and North Korea allegedly tested new engines for ballistic missiles to target the United States last year, an expert on North Korean nuclear weapons said in Washington on Thursday. "We should not be surprised that the ballistic missile connection is true and could be something that is happening between Iran and North Korea," said Sugio Takashi, a deputy director in the Japanese Ministry of Defense. "North Korea conducts nuclear tests every year and they are mainly aimed at the United States," Takashi added during a discussion at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank. A U.S. report released November 26, 2013 revealed that Iran is covertly working with North Korea on a new 80-ton rocket booster that can be used in both nations' long-range missile programs. Meanwhile, key U.S. Senate and House Republicans have said that the Iranian collaboration with North Korea on a new rocket booster for long-range missiles undermines the deal with Tehran on its nuclear program.