US intelligence chief visits South Korea

The Chief of the US Intelligence Office James Clapper is inSouth Korea for talks with officials on security issues, including North Korea’snuclear programs, a military source in Seoul said Wednesday.Clapper, Director of National Intelligence (DNI), arrived in Seoul the previous day tohold a series of talks with senior officials, including Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin,according to the Seoul source.“His visit is mainly to discuss the situation of the Korean Peninsula (with Seoulofficials),” (Yonhap) news agency quoted the source as saying.The two sides are expected to exchange intelligence on the recent development ofthe North’s nuclear activities and to discuss ways to deal with its possibleprovocations, he noted.Clapper’s visit comes as a nuclear test in North Korea is looming, with recent satellite imagery showing increased activities at its main test site in Punggye-ri.