WEB DESK / AMN
In a historic move, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has announced an indefinite halt on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. With major international summits ahead, Pyongyang is hoping to consolidate its diplomatic gains.
Kim Jong Un has announced that Pyongyang will carry out no more nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile tests and will shut down its atomic test site. This was reported by North’s state media today.
The declaration, long sought by the US, will be seen as a crucial step in the fast diplomatic dance on and around the Korean peninsula.
It comes less than a week before Kim meets South Korean leader Moon Jae-in for a summit in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, and ahead of a much-anticipated encounter with US President Donald Trump.
Pyongyang has made rapid technological progress in its weapons programmes under Kim, which has seen it subjected to increasingly strict sanctions by the UN Security Council, US, EU, South Korea and others. Last year it carried out its sixth nuclear test, by far its most powerful to date, and launched missiles capable of reaching mainland United States.
US President Donald Trump was one of the first to react, saying in a tweet: “North Korea has agreed to suspend all nuclear tests and close up a major test site. This is very good news for North Korea and the world – big progress! Look forward to our summit.”
North Korea has agreed to suspend all Nuclear Tests and close up a major test site. This is very good news for North Korea and the World – big progress! Look forward to our Summit.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2018
South Korea’s presidential office described North Korea’s announcement as “meaningful progress.” But Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera warned against easing pressure on the North Korean regime, saying: “We can’t be satisfied.”