South Korea’s presidential office, the Blue House, said on Thursday that Seoul and Washington are closely monitoring developments in North Korea’s nuclear and missile program after U.S. intelligence assessed that Pyongyang’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) could reach the U.S. mainland.
A Blue House official said in a press release that the two allies are sharing assessments of North Korea’s ballistic missile capabilities and related intelligence.
Tulsi Gabbard, director at the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday that North Korea, along with Russia, China and Pakistan, ranks among the U.S.’s greatest nuclear threats. She said Pyongyang’s ICBMs already have the range to reach the U.S. mainland and that the regime is actively working to expand its nuclear arsenal.
Gabbard added that North Korea has deployed more than 11,000 personnel to the war in Ukraine, gaining combat experience and modern equipment that have strengthened its military capabilities. She also said Pyongyang possesses biological and chemical weapons capabilities.