Friday 12 April 2013

Defense Intelligence Agency reports North Korea has nuclear missiles

Defense Intelligence Agency reports North Korea has nuclear missiles, In a congressional hearing yesterday Congressman Doug Laborn (R-CO) read from a study conducted by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) where the agency concluded that North Korea already has nuclear weapons.

"DIA assesses with moderate confidence the North currently has nuclear weapons capable of delivery by ballistic missiles," Laborn said, "however the reliability will be low."

The revelation came during a Rep. Lamborn questioned Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff during a session of the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., on Apr 11.

Asking his second question, Lamborn apparently and inadvertently disclosed the conclusion of a classified DIA report on North Korea's missile program.

"General, would you agree with that assessment by the DIA?" Lanborn asked General Dempsey.

The general answered that since he hadn't seen the report and it hadn't yet been made public, he wouldn't comment on it.

The Administration quickly moved to dismiss the DIA's assessment. White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that North Korea “has not demonstrated the capability to deploy a nuclear-armed missile.”

Secretary of State John Kerry made a similar statement this morning from Seoul, South Korea. He called the DIA report "inaccurate" despite the fact North Korea has conducted nuclear tests since 2006.

Kerry went on to say that if the North did launch a missile, it would be a huge mistake. “If Kim Jong Un decides to launch a missile, whether it’s across the Sea of Japan or in some other direction, he will be choosing willfully to ignore the entire international community, his own obligations that he has accepted, and it will be a provocative and unwanted act."

This all comes as North Korea earlier today warned Japan that Tokyo would be the first target struck if they do launch a nuclear strike.

This was seemingly in response to Japan moving missile interceptor units around their capital and the country's standing orders to destroy any rocket headed in their direction.

"We are doing all we can to protect the safety of our nation," Japan's chief Cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga said.

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