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James Clapper says North Korea denuclearisation a 'lost cause' James Clapper says North Korea denuclearisation a 'lost cause'
(about 2 hours later)
The US policy to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme is "probably a lost cause", the US national intelligence director has said.The US policy to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme is "probably a lost cause", the US national intelligence director has said.
James Clapper said the best the US could hope for was a cap on the North's capabilities, in a speech in New York.James Clapper said the best the US could hope for was a cap on the North's capabilities, in a speech in New York.
It is a rare admission that Washington's long-standing goal of denuclearisation may not be achievable.It is a rare admission that Washington's long-standing goal of denuclearisation may not be achievable.
However, the US State Department said its policy has not changed. However, the US state department said its policy had not changed.
Pyongyang claims to have made rapid progress in its nuclear and rocket programmes in recent years despite international opposition and strict sanctions. North Korea claims to have made rapid progress in its nuclear and rocket programmes in recent years despite international opposition and strict sanctions.
In September, North Korea carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test, to worldwide condemnation, with South Korea calling it an act of "self-destruction" In September, the country carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test, to worldwide condemnation.
Mr Clapper, President Barack Obama's advisor on national security, visited Pyongyang in 2014. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank on Tuesday, Mr Clapper described the North Korean government as "paranoid", and said it saw nuclear weapons as "their ticket to survival".
Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank on Tuesday, the intelligence chief described the regime in Pyongyang as "paranoid", seeing nuclear weapons as "their ticket to survival".
"So the notion of giving up their nuclear capability, whatever it is, is a non-starter with them," he added."So the notion of giving up their nuclear capability, whatever it is, is a non-starter with them," he added.
He suggested offering economic inducements to North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un to limit his nuclear arsenal might be a better policy.He suggested offering economic inducements to North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un to limit his nuclear arsenal might be a better policy.
Responding to Mr Clapper's comments, the State Department said the US still aims for a resumption of six-nation negotiations that have been stalled since the North pulled out of them in 2009. Responding to Mr Clapper's comments, the state department said it still aimed for a resumption of six-nation negotiations, from which the North pulled out in 2009.
The US is due to deploy its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system in South Korea soon, despite opposition from China and North Korea.The US is due to deploy its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system in South Korea soon, despite opposition from China and North Korea.
Washington and Seoul insist it is purely for defending against threats from North Korea.Washington and Seoul insist it is purely for defending against threats from North Korea.