Despite the rapid U-turn, the Clapper statement was notable in the broader context of both North Korea's relations with the US and South Korea, analysts told NK News on Wednesday.
James Clapper's take is that both military and sanctions are options to address North's nuclear and missile programs US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said on October 25 that getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear program was a "lost cause", and that the most realistic approach would be to try to restrict its nuclear capabilities.
While sticking to their goal of persuading the communist state to dispense with its nuclear weapons, the countries have chose to tighten the noose on Pyongyang.
Critics of the policy say sanctions and non-engagement have done nothing to prevent the North's accelerated drive towards a credible nuclear deterrent that could directly threaten the USA mainland.
Under the "Teak Knife" drill, the two allies focused on sending their special forces into North Korea through fixed-wing aircraft in the event of a conflict on the Korean peninsula, he said.
The agreement known as Japan-Korea GSOMIA collapsed in 2012 due to its unpopularity in South Korea, but Seoul is showing renewed interest.
Asked about Clapper's comments by CNN's Elise Labott, a spokesman for the State Department said the official U.S. position on the denuclearization of North Korea had not changed.
South Korea is also expected to begin hosting an advanced USA missile defence system soon, despite opposition from North Korea and China. "Denuclearization. That is the objective".
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The United States is set to deploy its THAAD missile defense system to South Korea as soon as possible, despite opposition from China, in an effort to protect against North Korea's pursuit of missile and nuclear technology.
"We will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state, we will not accept North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons".
As fears grow that the Asian country will soon possess a nuclear-tipped missile that can hit US soil, Clapper declared that a realistic best case scenario for the USA looks like a cap, not a ban, on North Korea's nuclear power.
The three nations, apart from the sanctions that are already in place, are mulling additional measures including fresh sanctions pending at the United Nations.
South Korea and Japan almost signed a bilateral intelligence sharing pact in 2012, but Seoul backed off at the last minute following political outcry at home. Moreover, many South Koreans have grudge against Japan for its brutal occupation of the Korean Peninsula during World War II and are sceptical about the country's military role in the region.
Washington has often stated it will not accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.
Kim defied sanctions by carrying out their fifth nuclear weapons test in September - which triggered a 5.3 magnitude natural disaster. An unidentified government official told the Yonhap news agency that Seoul and Washington remain strongly committed to ending the North's nuclear program.
