The U. S. administration must ask Pyongyang about its long-term objective, according to James Clapper, former U. S. intelligence chief from 2010 to 2017.
In order to see a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, the U. S. must ask North Korea about its long-term objective, warned James Clapper, former American director of national intelligence.
A retired U. S. Air Force lieutenant general, Clapper weighed in on the state of Washington-Pyongyang relations in the wake of the historic June summit between U. S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
« What failed to happen in the summit that occurred here in Singapore would have been a great opportunity for President Trump to get the answer to a very important question: ‘What is it that you require in North Korea that you don’t need nuclear weapons to feel secure?' » Clapper told CNBC’s Nancy Hungerford at the annual Barclays Asia Forum in Singapore.
« It would be very useful to know the answer to that. Otherwise, we’re ad hoc-ing it and taking one step in the blind at a time, » said Clapper, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2010 and left the role when Trump entered office.
The U. S. leader is considering meeting Kim for a second summit « as soon as possible, » according to recent news reports.
