Iran Press/America: According to Associated Press, the assessment of US spy agencies cast doubt on President Donald Trump's goal of a nuclear-disarmed North Korea.
Director of US National Intelligence Dan Coats, in the testimony, noted: "We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD (weapons of mass destruction) capabilities and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capability because its leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical to regime survival."
Coats said in an opening statement US spy agencies are observing North Korea's activity "that is inconsistent with full denuclearization."
On Jan 2, 2019, Trump administration has maintained it will not give ground on sanctions until North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons, but Pyongyang has called upon the US to alleviate sanctions following moves by Pyongyang to dismantle part of its nuclear program.
On June 12, 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump made their historic summit at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island of Singapore.
Following the last year summit in Singapore, Trump agreed to work with Kim Jong-un, Leader of North Korea toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, committed to providing the North's regime with security guarantees and pledged to end 'war games', which Pyongyang and Beijing have long seen as provocative.
Pyongyang says Washington has betrayed the spirit of the June summit by making unilateral demands for denuclearization first without taking any reciprocal measures, including for past North Korean goodwill steps.
North Korea declared that US President Donald Trump is blocking progress in inter-Korean relations and Washington is playing a "double game".101/210
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