Washington's top intelligence chief says North Korea has not fully developed the capability to load a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.

Speaking at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said North Korea's launch of a Taepodong 2 missile that placed a satellite in orbit last December demonstrated its long-range missile technology. But he said the "North has not fully developed, tested or demonstrated the full range of capabilities necessary for a nuclear-armed missile."

Clapper's remark is believed to clarify the confusion caused by Congressman Doug Lamborn who unveiled a classified assessment made by the Defense Intelligence Agency. The report presented during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on April 11th stated that "with moderate confidence the North currently has nuclear weapons capable of delivery by ballistic missiles; however the reliability will be low."

Clapper explained that "characterizing such capabilities in intelligence is a complex and nuanced process requiring sophisticated and highly technical analysis."