North Korea is unlikely to abandon its nuclear weapons because the regime views the bombs and their missile delivery systems as critical to its survival, according to the latest worldwide threat assessment from the US intelligence committee.
In an annual report to Congress, US intelligence agencies said the country was “unlikely” to abandon its nuclear programme even though it had not conducted any nuclear or missile test in the past year. The conclusion comes as US president Donald Trump moves ahead with plans to hold a second summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un next month.
“We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD capabilities and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities because its leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival,” Dan Coats, director of national intelligence, told the Senate intelligence committee yesterday.