North Korean Nukes Might Fit on Missiles, Aircraft: U.S.
North Korea could now possess nuclear warheads compact enough to be fitted to missiles and carried by bomber planes, U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess said on Thursday (see GSN, March 10).
(Mar. 11) - U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper, left, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess attend a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday. Burgess warned North Korea might now possess nuclear weapons suitable for delivery by missiles and bomber aircraft (Mark Wilson/Getty Images).
"The North may now have several plutonium-based nuclear warheads that it can deliver by ballistic missiles and aircraft as well as by conventional means," Burgess was quoted by the Yonhap News Agency as saying.
The isolated Stalinist state closely guards its nuclear program, limiting the availability of solid intelligence on its evolving deterrent capabilities. The aspiring nuclear power is believed to possess enough processed plutonium to fuel about six warheads, and a recently revealed uranium enrichment program could provide the nation with another avenue for producing bomb-grade material. It is not certain, though, whether Pyongyang has acquired the ability to field nuclear weapons on a bomber or missile.
"We expect the North will continue to test-launch missiles, including the [Taepodong 2] ICBM/SLV to refine their performance. With further TD-2 tests, North Korea may develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland," Burgess told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this year said the North could within five years acquire the ability to strike the United States with its ballistic missiles.
International negotiations over the North's nuclear program are not likely to result in total denuclearization, Burgess said.
"While North Korea may be willing to abandon portions of its nuclear program in exchange for improved relations with the United States, Pyongyang is unlikely to eliminate its nuclear weapons," the intelligence director asserted. "The D.P.R.K. will try to keep its nuclear weapons and gain international recognition as a nuclear state together with security guarantees from Washington and expanded economic assistance."
U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper supported Burgess's testimony.
"Obviously they continue to play their nuclear card," Clapper said. "That is their single, I think, leverage point, or leverage device they can use to attract attention and seek recognition for them as a nuclear power."
At the present time, Clapper said the intelligence community did not see another conventional attack by the North on South Korea as imminent, though he cautioned that internal politics could lead to a decision to launch another strike.
South Korea was attacked twice in 2010 -- a March torpedo strike sank the South Korean Cheonan warship and in November populated Yeonpyeong Island was shelled. Pyongyang denies all responsibility in the first incident and has defended its actions in the second (Hwang Doo-hyong, Yonhap News Agency, March 11).
Despite the uncertainty surrounding North Korea's nuclear intentions and abilities, Clapper said he believed China with its nuclear arsenal represented the biggest "mortal threat" to the United States, the Washington Times reported.
Unlike Russia, Washington does not have any arms control treaties with China, he noted (Eli Lake, Washington Times, March 10).
Meanwhile, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin on Friday told national lawmakers that the North could be readying to restart maritime "infiltration" maneuvers, Agence France-Presse reported.
"Surprise provocations using new means and methods are always possible," he said.
Seoul recently announced plans for a military buildup including more aircraft and artillery on five border islands to fend off potential new North Korean assaults (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, March 11).
(Mar. 11) - U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper, left, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess attend a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday. Burgess warned North Korea might now possess nuclear weapons suitable for delivery by missiles and bomber aircraft (Mark Wilson/Getty Images). "The North may now have several plutonium-based nuclear warheads that it can deliver by ballistic missiles and aircraft as well as by conventional means," Burgess was quoted by the Yonhap News Agency as saying.
The isolated Stalinist state closely guards its nuclear program, limiting the availability of solid intelligence on its evolving deterrent capabilities. The aspiring nuclear power is believed to possess enough processed plutonium to fuel about six warheads, and a recently revealed uranium enrichment program could provide the nation with another avenue for producing bomb-grade material. It is not certain, though, whether Pyongyang has acquired the ability to field nuclear weapons on a bomber or missile.
"We expect the North will continue to test-launch missiles, including the [Taepodong 2] ICBM/SLV to refine their performance. With further TD-2 tests, North Korea may develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland," Burgess told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this year said the North could within five years acquire the ability to strike the United States with its ballistic missiles.
International negotiations over the North's nuclear program are not likely to result in total denuclearization, Burgess said.
"While North Korea may be willing to abandon portions of its nuclear program in exchange for improved relations with the United States, Pyongyang is unlikely to eliminate its nuclear weapons," the intelligence director asserted. "The D.P.R.K. will try to keep its nuclear weapons and gain international recognition as a nuclear state together with security guarantees from Washington and expanded economic assistance."
U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper supported Burgess's testimony.
"Obviously they continue to play their nuclear card," Clapper said. "That is their single, I think, leverage point, or leverage device they can use to attract attention and seek recognition for them as a nuclear power."
At the present time, Clapper said the intelligence community did not see another conventional attack by the North on South Korea as imminent, though he cautioned that internal politics could lead to a decision to launch another strike.
South Korea was attacked twice in 2010 -- a March torpedo strike sank the South Korean Cheonan warship and in November populated Yeonpyeong Island was shelled. Pyongyang denies all responsibility in the first incident and has defended its actions in the second (Hwang Doo-hyong, Yonhap News Agency, March 11).
Despite the uncertainty surrounding North Korea's nuclear intentions and abilities, Clapper said he believed China with its nuclear arsenal represented the biggest "mortal threat" to the United States, the Washington Times reported.
Unlike Russia, Washington does not have any arms control treaties with China, he noted (Eli Lake, Washington Times, March 10).
Meanwhile, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin on Friday told national lawmakers that the North could be readying to restart maritime "infiltration" maneuvers, Agence France-Presse reported.
"Surprise provocations using new means and methods are always possible," he said.
Seoul recently announced plans for a military buildup including more aircraft and artillery on five border islands to fend off potential new North Korean assaults (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, March 11).
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