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| North Korea nuclear: US intelligence chief says disarmament unlikely | |
| (35 minutes 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 had not changed. | However, the US state department said its policy had not changed. |
| North Korea 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, the country carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test, to worldwide condemnation. | In September, the country carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test, to worldwide condemnation. |
| 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, Mr Clapper described the North Korean government as "paranoid", and said it saw 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 it still aimed for a resumption of six-nation negotiations, from which the North pulled out 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. |