Top US intelligence officials say North Korea's new leader is trying to show the world and his people that he is in charge, rather than trying to trigger military conflict.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper tells Congress on Thursday that his analysts believe North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is using rhetoric to gain recognition, and to manoeuvre the international community into concessions in future negotiations.
CIA director John Brennan says judging his actions is made tougher because he has not been in power long.
Clapper says the intelligence community believes the North would only use nuclear weapons to preserve the Kim regime, but says they do not know how the Kim regime defines that.
Both men say China is best able to influence North Korea to tone down its rhetoric.
