WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- Incoming President Donald Trump's nominee for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director assessed Wednesday that North Korea remains a "destabilizing" force, as he stressed America faces what may be the "most challenging" national security environment in its history.

The Senate has confirmed former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe to head the CIA Thursday. The vote was 74-25. Ratcliffe was a former Heath mayor and 4th District Congressman of Texas. He also served as U.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA told senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that the nation’s premier spy agency must do a better job of staying ahead of global threats posed by Russia, China and other adversaries.

CIA nominee John Ratcliffe is telling senators about how he’ll reshape the intelligence community in what he calls "the most challenging national security environment in our nation’s history."

The new director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) becomes the second Cabinet member of US President Donald Trump's administration. View on euronews

John Ratcliffe, Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA, told members of the Senate that loyalty to Trump would not conflict with duties to follow intelligence leads.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate confirmed former Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe to serve as the next director of the CIA on Thursday.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead America's premier spy agency and his second nominee to win Senate approval.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for CIA director, John Ratcliffe, on Wednesday vowed not to fire or force out employees for their political views or their opinions about the incoming U.S. leader,

Former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to ... He identified trans-national criminal organizations crossing the Southern border, Russia, Iran and North Korea as pressing national security threats.

Ratcliffe identified China as the U.S.'s greatest geopolitical rival as he testified before the Senate on Wednesday.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, giving President Donald Trump the second member of his new Cabinet.