International
North Korea suspends nuclear tests
Pariah Asian nation North Korea has announced its decision to suspend nuclear tests with immediate effect.
The announcement was made on Saturday by its headstrong leader Kim Jong-Un in the capital of Pyongyang and its is coming amid increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula ahead of a landmark summit between the North and the South next week.
According to Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea will also close its nuclear test site as part of the country’s efforts to pursue economic growth and regional peace.
“Nuclear development has proceeded scientifically and in due order and the development of the delivery strike means also proceeded scientifically and verified the completion of nuclear weapons,” the agency quoted Kim as saying during a meeting of the ruling party’s full Central Committee.
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“We no longer need any nuclear test or test launches of intermediate and intercontinental range ballistic missiles, and because of this the northern nuclear test site has finished its mission.”
The move by Kim’s North Korea is coming weeks after the US revealed that the pariah nation was ready to halt its nuclear proliferation program.
According to US officials, North Korea’s government reached out to say that leader Kim was ready to discuss his nuclear weapons program with President Donald Trump.
Reports say the development increased the likelihood and has created more confidence within Trump’s administration about the wisdom of holding a meeting with North Korea’s Kim over the matter.
Trump’s administration has long held that if the North Koreans weren’t ready to discuss giving up their nuclear program, there was no reason for the two countries to hold negotiations.
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