Jeff Seldin
Posted with permission from Voice of America
North Korea is likely just months away from being capable of striking
the United States with a nuclear missile, according to two top U.S.
officials.
CIA Director Mike Pompeo told a forum in Washington on Thursday he is
“deeply worried” about the advancing threat from North Korea and the
possibility it could spark a nuclear arms race across East Asia.
“We ought to behave as if we are on the cusp of them achieving that
objective,” Pompeo said when asked about Pyongyang’s pursuit of missile
technology that could launch a warhead to targets in the U.S.
“They are so far along in that it’s now a matter of thinking about how do you stop the final step?” he added.
National
security adviser H.R. McMaster speaks during the Foundation for Defense
of Democracies National Security Summit in Washington, Oct. 19, 2017.McMaster: We’re running out of time
U.S. National Security Adviser, Gen. H.R. McMaster said later on
Thursday that Washington was racing to resolve the situation, short of
using military force.
“We’re not out of time but we’re running out of time,” McMaster said,
speaking at the same event. “Accept and deter is unacceptable.”
The comments by Pompeo and McMaster come as tensions between the U.S.
and North Korea have been steadily rising following Pyongyang’s latest
nuclear test last month, it’s sixth overall, and repeated tests of what
intelligence officials have assessed to be both intermediate and long
range ballistic missiles.
But despite warning that North Korea is just months away from being
able to target the U.S., the CIA’s Pompeo cautioned there are still
questions about just how “robust” the North Korea nuclear threat has
become, and whether Pyongyang will be able to deliver multiple nuclear
warheads to nuclear targets.
“There’s always a risk. Intelligence is imperfect,” Pompeo said,
adding there is evidence Pyongyang may be getting help from Iran, citing
“deep conventional weapons ties as between the two countries.”
He also warned that each North Korean test makes an arms race ever more likely.
“You watch as North Korea grows ever closer to having its capability
perfected, you can imagine others in the region also thinking that they
well may need that capability,” he said.
Russian
President Vladimir Putin gestures while answering questions at a
meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia,
Oct. 19, 2017.Putin suggests force won’t work against North Korea
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned against the use
of force to eliminate the North Korean nuclear threat, suggesting it
would not work.
“Talks about a preventative, disarming strike — and we hear both
hints and open threats — this is very dangerous,” Putin said during a
speaking engagement in Sochi.
“Who knows what and where is hidden in North Korea? And whether all
of it can be destroyed with one strike, I doubt it,” he said. “I’m
almost sure it is impossible.”
North Korean officials have also repeatedly warned the U.S. against any provocations.
Pyongyang’s deputy envoy to the United Nations, Kim In Ryong, warned Monday that war could break out at any moment.
Other North Korean officials have accused the U.S. of making
preparations for war, citing the presence of the USS Ronald Reagan, a
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, conducting exercises to the east of
the Korean Peninsula.
the United States with a nuclear missile, according to two top U.S.
officials.
CIA Director Mike Pompeo told a forum in Washington on Thursday he is
“deeply worried” about the advancing threat from North Korea and the
possibility it could spark a nuclear arms race across East Asia.
“We ought to behave as if we are on the cusp of them achieving that
objective,” Pompeo said when asked about Pyongyang’s pursuit of missile
technology that could launch a warhead to targets in the U.S.
“They are so far along in that it’s now a matter of thinking about how do you stop the final step?” he added.
Nationalsecurity adviser H.R. McMaster speaks during the Foundation for Defense
of Democracies National Security Summit in Washington, Oct. 19, 2017.
U.S. National Security Adviser, Gen. H.R. McMaster said later on
Thursday that Washington was racing to resolve the situation, short of
using military force.
“We’re not out of time but we’re running out of time,” McMaster said,
speaking at the same event. “Accept and deter is unacceptable.”
The comments by Pompeo and McMaster come as tensions between the U.S.
and North Korea have been steadily rising following Pyongyang’s latest
nuclear test last month, it’s sixth overall, and repeated tests of what
intelligence officials have assessed to be both intermediate and long
range ballistic missiles.
But despite warning that North Korea is just months away from being
able to target the U.S., the CIA’s Pompeo cautioned there are still
questions about just how “robust” the North Korea nuclear threat has
become, and whether Pyongyang will be able to deliver multiple nuclear
warheads to nuclear targets.
“There’s always a risk. Intelligence is imperfect,” Pompeo said,
adding there is evidence Pyongyang may be getting help from Iran, citing
“deep conventional weapons ties as between the two countries.”
He also warned that each North Korean test makes an arms race ever more likely.
“You watch as North Korea grows ever closer to having its capability
perfected, you can imagine others in the region also thinking that they
well may need that capability,” he said.
RussianPresident Vladimir Putin gestures while answering questions at a
meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia,
Oct. 19, 2017.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned against the use
of force to eliminate the North Korean nuclear threat, suggesting it
would not work.
“Talks about a preventative, disarming strike — and we hear both
hints and open threats — this is very dangerous,” Putin said during a
speaking engagement in Sochi.
“Who knows what and where is hidden in North Korea? And whether all
of it can be destroyed with one strike, I doubt it,” he said. “I’m
almost sure it is impossible.”
North Korean officials have also repeatedly warned the U.S. against any provocations.
Pyongyang’s deputy envoy to the United Nations, Kim In Ryong, warned Monday that war could break out at any moment.
Other North Korean officials have accused the U.S. of making
preparations for war, citing the presence of the USS Ronald Reagan, a
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, conducting exercises to the east of
the Korean Peninsula.
