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Even though fighting on the Korean Peninsula ended in 1953, the North and South remain technically at war, and today, security in the region is 鈥渄eteriorating dramatically.鈥�

This is according to Sen. John McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who in a Thursday hearing leveled a striking charge: 鈥淚n the past 18 months, the North Korean regime has tried twice 鈥� that we know of 鈥� to ship arms to Iran.鈥�

Throughout the day's testimony, Senator McCain made an effort to draw out US defense officials on the relationship between the North Korean regime and Iran. He suggested a link between the Middle Eastern foe and North Korea鈥檚 decision to use one of its submarines to torpedo the South Korean ship Cheonan in March, resulting in the loss of 46 sailors.

McCain began the hearing by pointing out that the Pentagon鈥檚 2010 Ballistic Missile Defense Review estimated that if North Korea continues apace, 鈥淚t could soon have the capability to deliver a nuclear weapon not only to its neighbors, but to the United States.鈥�

But during questioning, McCain鈥檚 frustration after appearing not to get the answers he wanted regarding the nuclear threat posed by North Korea led to a testy exchange. He asked Wallace 鈥淐hip鈥� Gregson, assistant secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs: 鈥淒oes North Korea have a reliable nuclear capability?鈥�

鈥淲e know that North Korea aspires to a nuclear capability,鈥� Mr. Gregson said.

McCain tried again. 鈥淚鈥檒l repeat the question. Does North Korea have a reliable nuclear capability?鈥� To which Gregson responded, 鈥淣ot to our knowledge.鈥�

鈥淒oes North Korea have the capability to deliver a nuclear weapon?鈥� McCain asked one more time. Gregson had the same answer. 鈥淣ot to our knowledge.鈥�

McCain made little effort to hide his annoyance. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 very interesting because published reports indicate that they certainly have a 鈥� do they have a nuclear capability then, Secretary Gregson?鈥�

Gregson allowed, 鈥淭hey have demonstrated the ability to detonate nuclear devices.鈥�

McCain changed tacks, asking Gregson whether he had any information that the 鈥淣orth Korean submarine that sank the Cheonan was using Iranian technology.鈥�

Gregson said he preferred to discuss the matter in a classified session. McCain then delved into the threat such an act might pose to the US. 鈥淚s it possible that the same act of 'provocation' could have ... been committed against a United States warship just as easily?鈥�

Gregson demurred. 鈥淐ertainly the ability to attack from ambush, to conduct a surprise attack is a threat. Yes, it could have been attempted." However, Gregson added, "I would not characterize it as 鈥榡ust as easily.鈥� 鈥�

With wars on two fronts, the Pentagon has often taken pains to ratchet down rhetoric on both Iran and North Korea. When asked if he has seen 鈥渋ncreased acts of provocation on the part of the North Koreans and/or military buildup,鈥� Gen. Walter Sharp, the commander of US forces in Korea, answered, 鈥淪enator, not military buildup鈥� and noted that the summer training cycle has been 鈥渘ormal, or maybe slightly below normal.鈥� But, he added, they have fired artillery out in the ocean in an effort to flex their muscle.

鈥淚 also don鈥檛 like the word provocation,鈥� Sharp said, but firing the artillery rounds is clearly an effort 鈥渢o demonstrate to the people of South Korea that they have the capability to do things at their will.鈥�

Across town just hours later, in a joint press conference with the French defense minister, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates took a moment to thank his counterpart for 鈥渢rying to get more countries to adopt more severe sanctions鈥� against Iran.

These United Nations measures, Gates added, appear to hold some promise 鈥� much to the surprise of some within the US military. 鈥淥ur discussion today was really about the fact that the sanctions have ended up being more effective and more severe than perhaps we might have expected.鈥�

But the frustration, both within the halls of the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill, remains how little of a window the US has into both regimes. When asked by McCain whether it appears clear that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il鈥檚 youngest son will be his successor, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell answered, 鈥淵our guess is as good as ours, Senator.鈥�

鈥淲ell,鈥� McCain quipped, 鈥渢hat鈥檚 an interesting comment on our intelligence-gathering capability.鈥�