US intelligence chief raises alarms over North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions

Tulsi Gabbard director of national intelligence speaks at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in Washington DC on March 25 2025 — U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard speaks at a Senate hearing in Washington, D.C. on March 25, 2025. AFP-Yonhap

SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - North Korea is "probably prepared to conduct another nuclear test on short notice," as the reclusive country has no intention of giving up its nuclear weapons program, a top U.S. intelligence official suggests.

The comment came from U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard as she testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Tuesday.

"North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is pursuing stronger strategic and conventional capabilities that can target U.S. forces and allies in the region, as well as the U.S. homeland," she said, adding that these ambitions aim "to bolster North Korea's leverage and stature, defend the regime and achieve at least tacit recognition as a nuclear weapons power."

Gabbard also expressed concerns about North Korea's growing military ties with Russia. "Kim's recently cemented strategic partnership with Russia supports these goals by providing him greater financial, military, and diplomatic support; reduced reliance on China and the need to defer to Beijing's terms for support; and providing North Korean forces and weapons systems authentic warfighting experience," she pointed out.

A separate annual assessment by her office also stressed that Kim has "no intention of negotiating away his strategic weapons programs, which he perceives as a guarantor of regime security and national pride."

Im Yoon-seo lyseo0330@ajupress.com

US intelligence chief raises alarms over North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions

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