North Korea has « reached the target stage, where the nation and people’s safety is reliably secured, » said the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced Friday evening that the country has suspended nuclear and long-range missile tests, claiming further tests are unnecessary.
Kim also announced his regime will shut down a nuclear test ground in the northern part of the country.
North Korea has « reached the target stage, where the nation and people’s safety is reliably secured, » Kim said. The next stage, he said, is building on efforts to denuclearize, « which is the peace-loving platform of our party. »
The announcement, made by the state-run Korean Central News Agency around dawn Saturday local time, comes ahead of a planned meeting between Kim and President Donald Trump as well as a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in next Friday.
Trump responded to the announcement on Twitter, saying, « This is very good news for North Korea and the World — big progress! Look forward to our Summit. »
A message from Kim Jong Un: “North Korea will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles.”
Also will “Shut down a nuclear test site in the country’s Northern Side to prove the vow to suspend nuclear tests.” Progress being made for all!
North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests, the most recent in September. The tests have sparked international condemnation, and late last year the United Nations imposed punishing sanctions on the isolated country.
In the KCNA statement, Kim said, « Every process involved with nuclear development” has been carried out, and « the means of delivery also has been conducted scientifically, resulting in the completion of nuclear weaponization, » according to an NBC translation.
Kim also said the country would halt nuclear tests, and stop test-firing midrange and intercontinental ballistic missiles. « Accordingly, the northern nuclear test ground has ended its mission, » he said.
Kim said, according to KCNA, that « no nuclear test and intermediate-range and inter-continental ballistic rocket test-fire are necessary for the DPRK now, given that the work for mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic rockets was finished, » referring to the country’s official name of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
