Future U.S. Spy Chief Warns of More Attacks from N.Korea

North Korea's sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan in March could herald a "dangerous new period" of direct attacks by the North on South Korea to advance its goals, the future U.S. intelligence chief warned Tuesday.

In a written answer in a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing, the nominee for director of national intelligence James Clapper said, "The most important lesson for all of us in the intelligence community from this year's provocations by Pyongyang is to realize that we may be entering a dangerous new period when North Korea will once again attempt to advance its internal and external political goals through direct attacks on our allies" in the South.

Clapper added there is "a renewed realization that North Korea's military forces still pose a threat that cannot be taken lightly."