{"id":18302,"date":"2018-03-08T18:22:31","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T18:22:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/08\/us-intel-chief-north-korea-is-the-hardest-intelligence-collection-target\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:41:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:41:42","slug":"us-intel-chief-north-korea-is-the-hardest-intelligence-collection-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2018\/03\/08\/us-intel-chief-north-korea-is-the-hardest-intelligence-collection-target\/","title":{"rendered":"US intel chief: North Korea is the \u2018hardest intelligence collection target\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MELBOURNE, Australia \u2014 North Korea remains \u201ca critical threat to the United States and our allies in Northeast Asia,\u201d while China continues on a sweeping military modernization plan that \u201cincludes the development of capabilities to conduct long-range attacks against adversary forces that might deploy or operate in the western Pacific Ocean<\/a>,\u201d according to the director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley was testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on threats to the national security of the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Korea<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On North Korea, Ashley called the isolationist country the United States\u2019 \u201chardest intelligence collection target<\/a>.\u201d Unsurprisingly, he also touched on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un\u2019s pursuit of nuclear warheads and the ballistic missiles to deliver them against the United States. He specifically noted that in 2016 and 2017, North Korea launched more than 40 short-, medium-, intermediate- intercontinental-range, and submarine-launched missiles, adding that although \u201cflight tests on longer-range missiles in 2016 were marked by multiple failures and setbacks, 2017 saw Pyongyang making advancements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July saw tests of two Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching North America and a late November launch of the new Hwasong-15 ICBM. North Korea has also twice flight-tested a solid-propellant, medium-range missile capable of reaching Japan, which Ashley described as \u201csignificant because solid-propellant missiles can be prepared for launch more rapidly than liquid-propellant systems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This July 28, 2017, photo distributed by the North Korean government shows what was said to be the launch of a Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea. North Korea was the main concern cited in a white paper approved by Japan’s Cabinet on Aug. 8, 2017, less than two weeks after the North test-fired its second ICBM. (Korean Central News Agency\/Korea News Service via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the North is continuing its nuclear weapons program, with Ashley noting that its sixth nuclear test, which occurred in September 2017, \u201cgenerated a much larger seismic signature than had previous events.\u201d North Korea had claimed this was a test of a hydrogen bomb for use on an ICBM. Pyongyang has showcased two different nuclear warhead designs, claiming both as missile-deliverable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DIA chief concluded his testimony on North Korea by warning that Kim \u201cshows no interest in voluntarily walking away from his nuclear or missile programs, which he has made central to his security strategy.\u201d However, South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui-yong recently said the North is open to \u201cfrank\u201d talks<\/a> with the United States on denuclearization and would suspend missile and nuclear tests in exchange for security guarantees.<\/p>\n\n\n\t