WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The U.S. intelligence chief warned Tuesday that North Korea will continue its exports of weapons of massive destruction despite its leadership change.
"North Korea's export of ballistic missiles and associated materials to several countries, including Iran and Syria, illustrate
the reach of the North's proliferation activities," James Clapper, director of national intelligence, told a congressional hearing.
"We don't expect Kim Jong-un, North Korea's new young leader, to change Pyongyang's policy of attempting to export most of its weapons systems," he added.
Clapper's comments marked one of the firmest assessments by Washington of Pyongyang's new leadership.
The secretive communist nation embraced Kim, believed to be in his late 20s, shortly after the sudden death in December of his father, Kim Jong-il, who ruled for 17 years.
The White House made it clear that there will be no major policy shift on Pyongyang after its power transfer.
"Obviously, I can't predict the future in terms of what might transpire on the Korean Peninsula and with North Korea. But there has been no policy change," spokesman Jay Carney said at a press briefing.