Formere Director of U.S. National Intelligence James Clapper speaks during a discussion on "The 9/11 Commission Report: Ten Years Later," on July 22, 2014 at the Newseum in Washington, DC (AFP Photo/Alex Wong)

Retired Lt. Gen. James Clapper has served in the United States Air Force for decades and under former President Barack Obama as the Director of National Intelligence. Hes not an easily excited man, according to information warfare expert Molly McKew. But thats exactly what happened Thursday when Clapper discussed President Donald Trumps comments about North Korea.

I was really struck when I visited there in November 2014, you know, but the level of paranoia and the siege mentality that prevails in North Korea was overwhelming, Clapper explained. Ive followed Korean Peninsula since I served there in the mid-1980s and I was really taken aback by the level of the siege mentality and the paranoia that exists there. And so Ive been an advocate for years now of opening which right now is kind of hard to do, but an intersection in Pyongyang much like we had in Havana for decades government we didnt recognize. This is not a reward for bad behavior but rather to have an in residence diplomatic presence, a way of gaining greater insight and understanding in whats going on in North Korea and perhaps most importantly, conveying information to North Korea.

He went on to say that whatever the United States has been doing with respect to North Korea, clearly isnt working and its time to think about a new and different strategy.

I dont know exactly how it would work, but I think the time has come to think about some direct dialogue with the North Koreans, Clapper urged. It wasnt so long ago that President Trump was saying it would be an honor to meet Kim Jong-Un and perhaps a summit that could be brokered by the Chinese. But this you know, dont pass go, dont collect $200 and were going to, you know, create a situation the likes of Hiroshima or Nagasaki, which is implied in the presidents threat. I dont think were there yet, at least I hope to god were not.

He went on to say that the global community must accept that North Korea has a nuclear presence on the global stage.

When you consider the alternative, which is not good, I would hope people would give [talks] some thought, he said.

Host Don Lemon asked about Trumps attitudes on the intelligence community and Clapper noted that it seems Trump waffles back and forth on it.

Well, I think he likes intelligence on a selective basis, Clapper continued. He seems to accept the intelligence on Korea or on Syria, on China, on other areas, on terrorism, but when it comes to Russia, not so much.

He said that trump would improve once he got rid of the two principle Nazis, John Brennan and himself. Clapper was referencing to a January 11, 2017 press conference prior to Trumps inauguration where he blamed the intelligence community for leaks about Russian hacking. He explained Trump likened he and Brennan to likened us to Nazis.

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Fmr Intel Director James Clapper warns US is waltzing into WW3 if Trump doesn't choose diplomacy over threats - Raw Story