Kim can use nukes as 'coercive' tool: CIA

CIA Director Mike Pompeo has said that the nuclear missile programme of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's regime is designed not only for self-defence but also for intimidation as it can be used as "coercive" tool with the intent of reunifying the Korean peninsula under his rule.

"We do believe he would use these tool sets beyond self-preservation," Pompeo said at the the American Enterprise Institute on Tuesday. He said Kim was likely prepared to use both nuclear and conventional military forces for "coercive" purposes with the intent of reunifying the divided Korean peninsula under his autocratic regime.

Pompeo said Pyongyang was less than a year away from putting Americans at risk and Washington's next obvious move would be to develop the capability to launch multiple missiles concurrently, CNN reported.

"Kim Jong Un will not rest with one single successful test. His next move would be to develop an arsenal or the capacity to deliver missiles from multiple firing points simultaneously, the Central Intelligence Agency's chief said.

"Our mission is to make the day that he can do that as far off as possible."

Pompeo said that US intelligence and military agencies continue to prepare a series of options for President Donald Trump in case diplomacy fails to achieve the stated goal of denuclearisation.

"We're not quite where we need to be," Pompeo said.

"Our mission is not complete but we have officers all around the world working diligently to make sure that we do everything we can to support the US pressure campaign and to tighten the sanctions in such a way we have the opportunity to prevail in the quest to achieve the denuclearisation of the peninsula."

--IANS

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