U.S. spy chief casts doubt on N.K. denuclearization in 1 year

WASHINGTON, July 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea could "technically" dismantle its nuclear weapons program in a year, but that is unlikely to happen, the U.S. intelligence chief said Thursday.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats was speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, Reuters said, as negotiations on North Korea's denuclearization have reportedly been slow-moving.

"It's technically possible but probably not going to happen," Coats was quoted as saying in response to a question about U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton's suggestion of a one-year timeframe.

Bolton said early this month that if North Korea was willing to disclose all of its weapons of mass destruction programs, it would be possible to dismantle the "overwhelming bulk" of them within a year.

His comments came on the heels of a historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during which Kim committed to work towards the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S.

"I think Secretary (of State Mike) Pompeo has clearly said this is hard, this is going to take some time," Coats was also quoted as saying. "He has projected a longer time frame ... But it's a much more complicated process than most people think."

Trump has backed away from setting a deadline for North Korea's denuclearization, saying in recent remarks that there is "no rush" and "no time limit."

hague@yna.co.kr
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