North Korea nuclear disarmament unlikely: U.S. intel chiefOctober 26, 2016 - 11:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. policy to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme is "probably a lost cause", the U.S. national intelligence director has said, according to BBC News. James Clapper said the best the U.S. could hope for was a cap on the North's capabilities, in a speech in New York. It is a rare admission that Washington's long-standing goal of denuclearisation may not be achievable. However, the U.S. state department said its policy had not changed. North Korea claims to have made rapid progress in its nuclear and rocket programmes in recent years despite international opposition and strict sanctions. In September, the country carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test, to worldwide condemnation. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank on Tuesday, Mr Clapper described the North Korean government as "paranoid", and said it saw nuclear weapons as "their ticket to survival". "So the notion of giving up their nuclear capability, whatever it is, is a non-starter with them," he added. He suggested offering economic inducements to North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un to limit his nuclear arsenal might be a better policy. Responding to Clapper's comments, the state department said it still aimed for a resumption of six-nation negotiations, from which the North pulled out in 2009. The U.S. is due to deploy its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system in South Korea soon, despite opposition from China and North Korea. Washington and Seoul insist it is purely for defending against threats from North Korea. Photo: AP Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |