Several factors have prevented the United States from collecting intelligence in North Korea, which has become problematic as the reclusive nation continues to test its missile program.
NBC News reported on the three main problems U.S. intelligence officials face when it comes to spying on the country: a lack of human intelligence, the absence of an Internet, and underground tunnels that prevent spy satellites from seeing rockets and other components of a missile test.
When it comes to human intelligence, the most basic form of spying, North Koreans are afraid to speak up out of fears their family could be put into a labor camp. A lack of Americans on the ground in North Korea compounds the issue.
NBC noted the National Security Agency has been able to steal some data from North Korea, but the country's absence of an Internet makes digital spying awfully challenging.
"Their broadband is extremely limited, so, using that as an access to collection, we get very limited results," Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats told Congress in May.
The other problem is North Korea's mountainous terrain and its network of tunnels, in which the military is able to hide and fuel missiles before they are launched. NBC cited officials who said the U.S. only had a few hours notice before North Korea launched a missile that flew over Japan on Monday.
North Korea has conducted numerous missile tests this year as it continues to build an arsenal. At the same time, the reclusive nation is developing a nuclear weapon. One report earlier this month claimed the country has mini nuclear warheads that can fit onto an ICBM.
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