(The Hill)
Olivia Beavers 01/29/19 10:33 AM
Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats on Tuesday threw cold water on the idea that North Korea will fully get rid of nuclear weapon stockpiles, stating that the country views these capabilities as key to their survival.
"We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its [Weapons of Mass Destruction] capabilities," Coats told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee during the panel's worldwide threats hearing.
"It is unlikely to give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities because its leaders view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival. Our assessment is bolstered by our observations of some activity that is inconsistent with full denuclearization," he continued.
Coats's remarks come shortly after the White House announced that President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet for a second time in February as part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula — a cornerstone of Trump's foreign policy agenda.
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