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U.S. NEWS A5
Wednesday 10 February
Intelligence officials: IS determined to strike US this year
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper listens on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, weapons program, follow-
Feb. 9, 2016, while testifying before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on worldwide ing its recent underground
threats. test explosion and rocket
launch, but is working to
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) expand what is thought
to be a small nuclear ar-
senal. U.S.-based experts
have estimated that North
Korea may have about
10 bombs, but that could
grow to between 20 and
100 by 2020.
North Korea on Sunday
launched a rocket carrying
an Earth observation satel-
lite into space. The launch
followed a Jan. 6 under-
ground nuclear explosion
that North Korea claimed
was the successful test of
a “miniaturized” hydrogen
bomb. Many outside ex-
perts were skeptical and
Clapper said the low yield
of the test “is not consistent
with a successful test of a
thermonuclear device.”q
DEB RIECHMANN will continue to see cyber
RICHARD LARDNER threats from China, Russia
Associated Press and North Korea, which
WASHINGTON (AP) — also is ramping up its nucle-
Leaders of the Islamic ar program.
State are determined to North Korea has expanded
strike targets in the United a uranium enrichment fa-
States this year, senior U.S. cility and restarted a plu-
intelligence officials said tonium reactor that could
Tuesday, telling lawmakers begin recovering mate-
that a small group of vio- rial for nuclear weapons in
lent extremists will attempt weeks or months, Clapper
to overcome the logistical said in delivering the an-
challenges of mounting nual assessment by intelli-
such an attack. gence agencies of the top
In testimony before con- dangers facing the coun-
gressional committees, try.
Director of National Intel- Clapper said that Pyong-
ligence James Clapper yang announced in 2013
and other officials de- its intention to refurbish and
scribed the Islamic State as restart nuclear facilities, to
the “pre-eminent terrorist include the uranium en-
threat.” The militant group richment facility at Yong-
can “direct and inspire at- byon and its plutonium
tacks against a wide range production reactor, which
of targets around the was shut down in 2007. He
world,” Clapper said. said U.S. intelligence had
Marine Lt. Gen. Vincent assessed that North Korea
Stewart, director of the De- has expanded Yongbyon
fense Intelligence Agency, and restarted the pluto-
said the Islamic State will nium production reactor
probably conduct addi- there.
tional attacks in Europe Clapper also told the Sen-
and then attempt the ate Armed Services and
same in the U.S. He said intelligence committees
U.S. intelligence agencies that North Korea has been
believe IS leaders will be operating the reactor long
“increasingly involved in di- enough that it could be-
recting attacks rather than gin to recover plutonium
just encouraging lone at- “within a matter of weeks
tackers.” to months.”
Clapper also said al-Qai- Both findings will deepen
da, from which the Islamic concern that North Korea
State spun off, remains is not only making techni-
an enemy and the U.S. cal advances in its nuclear
