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The US CIA notice about the establishment of a Korea Mission Center

On May 10, the CIA announced the establishment of the Korea Mission Center, which is designed to counter the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles. It’s very unusual for the CIA to set up a mission center focused on one specific country.

The CIA said it had established the center to deploy all the resources, capabilities and authority in the agency to deal with the North Korean nuclear and missile threat and that experienced CIA agents would be gathered at the center to exercise their expertise and creativity. The agency added that it would be appointing a veteran agent in the field as deputy director in charge of Korea to head up the center. The center is likely to focus on collecting and analyzing intelligence related to North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile technology.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo said the Korea Mission Center’s establishment “allows us to more purposefully integrate and direct CIA efforts against the serious threats to the United States and its allies emanating from North Korea.”

“It also reflects the dynamism and agility that CIA brings to evolving national security challenges,” he added.

The Korea Mission Center is the CIA’s eleventh mission center. The agency current has mission centers for Africa, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and the Near East, among others. Al Jazeera reported that the establishment of a mission center for a specific country rather than a region or content hints at the firmer stance the Donald Trump administration is taking on North Korea.

By Hwang Sang-cheol, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]