North Korea says it will stop nuclear tests, abolish test site - KCNA

[rooster59]

North Korea says it will stop nuclear tests, abolish test site - KCNA

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the launch of a Hwasong-12 missile in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 16, 2017. KCNA via REUTERS

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea will suspend nuclear and missile tests effective immediately and abolish a nuclear test site in the northern part of the country in a bid to pursue economic growth and peace on the Korean peninsula, state media said on Saturday.

 

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un said in a statement his country no longer needs to conduct nuclear tests or intercontinental ballistic missile tests because it has completed weaponizing nuclear arms, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-04-21

[RotMahKid]

If a product is perfect, there is no need for testing it anymore.

[canuckamuck]

You can all thank Mr. Trump and maybe apologize about all the crap things you said about him.

[BobBKK]

If this is true it will be a HUGE step forward and credit does have to be given to Trump despite all his megalomaniac faults. The pussy footing around by previous POTUS's got us nowhere. Early days but there is HOPE!

[bluesofa]

Steph's cartoon in the Nation today just about sums it up:

 

[simple1]

20 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

You can all thank Mr. Trump and maybe apologize about all the crap things you said about him.

Have to wait and see what truly influenced the announcement; if Trump's announcements did in fact alter the mindset of the N.K. dictator, sure---very high risk gamble with other people's lives, but nethertheless - well done.

 

Apologise for criticising Trump's appalling behaviour & actions to date as President of USA? - NO

Edited April 20, 2018 by simple1

[ezzra]

If Trump and the Us believe for one moment what this tyrant is saying

and promising, than i have a tower in paris and a bridge in London

i want to sell,

These kind of ruthless people, will never ever let go of the nukes, simply

because this is the only ace card the have in their sleeves, and without

the threat of nukes, he's nothing, a nobody, so just like Iran, he will

not let go of them no matter what promises he will undertake....

[KMartinHandyman]

If Trump and the Us believe for one moment what this tyrant is saying
and promising, than i have a tower in paris and a bridge in London
i want to sell,
These kind of ruthless people, will never ever let go of the nukes, simply
because this is the only ace card the have in their sleeves, and without
the threat of nukes, he's nothing, a nobody, so just like Iran, he will
not let go of them no matter what promises he will undertake....

You might want to read the article and realize that they are abandoning one nuclear test site in the north, how many do they have that are not part of the agreement. Also they stated they will stop nuclear testing, that says nothing of any other nuclear capabilities they already process.

[car720]

2 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

You can all thank Mr. Trump and maybe apologize about all the crap things you said about him.

I wouldn't thank that man for squat.

I would  however thank whoever the real people are who put all this together.  Good souls.  Twice now I have watched the world step back from the brink.  The Bay of Pigs and now this.  Thank God for saner minds.

[Curmudgeon1]

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

Have to wait and see what truly influenced the announcement; if Trump's announcements did in fact alter the mindset of the N.K. dictator, sure---very high risk gamble with other people's lives, but nethertheless - well done.

 

Apologise for criticising Trump's appalling behaviour & actions to date as President of USA? - NO

His actions Trump his words?

[BuaBS]

Kim's attitude changed after his Beijing visit. Has everything to do with Xi .

[mike324]

1 hour ago, BuaBS said:

Kim's attitude changed after his Beijing visit. Has everything to do with Xi .

I agree, folks who are thinking Trump is the hero now really don't read enough news. Xi have gave assurances to Kim, hence Kim is officially announcing further tests, but not before saying that they have weaponize and capable of sending nuclear missiles. If Kim is the one following Trump, why is Kim meeting Xi and South Korean president first? He is securing his bargaining chip with his closest neighbors before approaching Trump for hand outs. Kim has played his cards well.

 

The credit that Trump has is his harsh words and getting countries to up the sanctions have made NK act more quickly, but that was not before NK shot missiles over Japan, putting other countries at risk. That was very reckless of Trump.

 

 

[rooster59]

North Korea says will stop nuclear tests, scrap test site

By Soyoung Kim and Cynthia Kim

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the Third Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on April 20, 2018. KCNA/via Reuters

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea will immediately suspend nuclear and missile tests and scrap its nuclear test site and instead pursue economic growth and peace, the North's state media said on Saturday, ahead of planned summits with South Korea and the United States.

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country no longer needed to conduct nuclear tests or intercontinental ballistic missile tests because it had completed its goal of developing nuclear weapons, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

 

North Korea said that to create an "international environment favourable" for its economy, it would "facilitate close contact and active dialogue" with neighbouring countries and the international community.

 

It was the first time Kim directly addressed his position on North Korea's nuclear weapons programmes ahead of planned summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in next week and with U.S. President Donald Trump in late May or early June.

 

The pledge to halt the development of nuclear weapons, initiated by his grandfather and continued by his father, would mean a significant reversal for the young, third-generation leader, now 34, who has staked his security on his nuclear arsenal and spent years celebrating such weapons as an integral part of his regime’s legitimacy and power.

 

A testing freeze and commitment to close a test site alone would fall short of Washington's demand that Pyongyang completely dismantle all of its nuclear weapons and missiles.

 

But announcing the concessions now, rather than during summit meetings, shows Kim is serious about denuclearisation talks, experts say.

 

"The northern nuclear test ground of the DPRK will be dismantled to transparently guarantee the discontinuance of the nuclear test," KCNA said after Kim convened a plenary session of the Central Committee of the ruling Worker's Party on Friday.

 

The North's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

 

The Pyunggye-ri site in northern North Korea is its only known nuclear test site, where all of its six underground tests were conducted, including the last, its largest-ever detonation, in September.

 

"We will concentrate all efforts on building a powerful socialist economy and markedly improving the standard of people's living through the mobilisation of all human and material resources of the country," KCNA said.

 

Trump welcomed the statement and said he looked forward to a summit with Kim.

 

"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," Trump said on Twitter.

 

South Korea said the North's decision signified "meaningful" progress toward denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and would create favourable conditions for successful meetings with it and the United States.

 

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he welcomed North Korea's statement but it must lead to verifiable denuclearisation.

 

"This announcement is forward motion that I'd like to welcome," Abe told reporters. "But what's important is that this leads to complete, verifiable denuclearisation. I want to emphasise this."

 

The United States, Japan and South Korea have historically been the main targets of North Korea's anger.

 

"We’re all looking for evidence that Kim is really serious about negotiations, and announcements like this certainly suggest he is, and that he is trying to make clear to the world that he is," said David Wright, co-director of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

 

FEARS OF WAR

 

North Korea has said its nuclear and missile programmes are necessary deterrents against U.S. hostility. It has conducted numerous missile tests with the aim of being able to hit the United States with a nuclear bomb.

 

The tests and escalating rhetoric between Trump and Kim raised fears of war until, in a New Year's speech, the North Korean leader called for reduced military tensions.

 

He later improved ties with South Korea and sent a delegation to the Winter Olympics in the South in February.

 

Nam Sung-wook, professor of North Korean Studies at Korea University in Seoul, said it was "sensational" that Kim had personally declared plans to suspend nuclear development, but added that his remarks left a number of questions.

 

"It still does not seem clear if it means whether the North will just not pursue further development of its nuclear programmes in the future, or whether they will completely shut down 'all' nuclear facilities. And what are they going to do with their existing nuclear weapons?" Nam said.

 

South Korean President Moon said on Thursday North Korea had expressed a commitment to "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, and had not attached conditions, but Washington had remained wary and vowed to maintain "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang.

 

The United States said on Thursday that in the run-up to Trump's planned summit with Kim, countries should continue to put financial and diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang to surrender its banned nuclear weapons.

 

Many U.S. officials and experts doubt Kim's sincerity about denuclearising, viewing the recent flurry of diplomacy as a ploy to win relief from economic sanctions.

 

U.N. Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006 and extended over the past decade have aimed to deny it a considerable amount of international trade, banning critical exports such as coal, iron ore, seafood, textile while limiting oil imports.

 

That has threatened the policy of “byungjin" - simultaneous military and economic development - that Kim Jong Un has adopted since taking power in late 2011.

 

"Easing tensions and cooperating with the international community is critical if Kim wanted to advance the economy," said Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at the Sejong Institute think-tank south of Seoul.

 

Koh Yu-hwan, professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University in Seoul, said he did not believe Pyongyang was ready to give up its existing nuclear weapons and missiles.

 

"Kim is just saying that now that the nuclear development is complete, he will put all the efforts toward building an economy," Koh said.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-04-21

[harada]

I smell a very large rat. 

[boomerangutang]

So, let's see: calling Kim "Rocket Man" made him think reasonably?  I don't get it.

 

If what the OP puts forth is correct, and NK stops developing/testing nukes for at least the next 5 years, then I'll be the first in line to commend both men with ridiculous haircuts.  

 

However I want to wax hopeful, my cynicism creeps up and tells me:  Kim is not trustworthy, so why should we believe him?

 

I th ink the next step will be the US saying, "stopping your N program is not good enough. You must now dismantle all your N weapons."    .....and the world will be back to square one.

[car720]

2 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

So, let's see: calling Kim "Rocket Man" made him think reasonably?  I don't get it.

 

If what the OP puts forth is correct, and NK stops developing/testing nukes for at least the next 5 years, then I'll be the first in line to commend both men with ridiculous haircuts.  

 

However I want to wax hopeful, my cynicism creeps up and tells me:  Kim is not trustworthy, so why should we believe him?

 

I th ink the next step will be the US saying, "stopping your N program is not good enough. You must now dismantle all your N weapons."    .....and the world will be back to square one.

Just my opinion but I think Xi told him to pull his head in as it was putting China too much in the spotlight.

[dunroaming]

8 hours ago, BobBKK said:

If this is true it will be a HUGE step forward and credit does have to be given to Trump despite all his megalomaniac faults. The pussy footing around by previous POTUS's got us nowhere. Early days but there is HOPE!

I am more cynical than you but I totally take your point.  For me Kim is getting his ducks in a line.  By announcing this now he is making sure that Trump cannot claim this as a victory for him.

 

Let's see if KJU agrees to denuclearisation.  At the moment he has said he will stop testing because his nuclear ambitions have been met.  In other words he now has the capability to hit the USA if attacked. 

[wabothai]

Directly trump has little to do with these actions. NK-China

Edited April 21, 2018 by wabothai

[canuckamuck]

2 hours ago, wabothai said:

Directly trump has little to do with these actions. NK-China

Oh for sure. I can't imagine how the world's largest economy and military machine would have even made the radar in China over this, despite the USA being a massive trade partner in with little Kim who has been recently re informed about the nuclear football. 

USA who? am I right.

 

[canuckamuck]

Just now, canuckamuck said:

Oh for sure. I can't imagine how the world's largest economy and military machine would have even made the radar in China over this, despite the USA being a massive trade partner. Or with little Kim who has been recently re informed about the nuclear football. 

USA who? am I right.

 

 

[alocacoc]

China is key. Who put China under pressure? Who?

All credit goes to Trump.

Sent from a so called Smartphone using an App.

[digger70]

Yep, He don't need that Site No more He's got enough info and can do what he wants to do on the Other sides he's got.

He must be close to have the weapon He Needs/Want.

[F4UCorsair]

I am more cynical than you but I totally take your point.  For me Kim is getting his ducks in a line.  By announcing this now he is making sure that Trump cannot claim this as a victory for him.
 
Let's see if KJU agrees to denuclearisation.  At the moment he has said he will stop testing because his nuclear ambitions have been met.  In other words he now has the capability to hit the USA if attacked. 

Based on tests conducted a few months ago, North Korea's weapons couldn't accurately hit anything more than a few hundred metres distant, let alone the US!

His 'nuclear ambitions' must have been low if they've been met.

Sent from my SM-G610F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[lannarebirth]

4 hours ago, digger70 said:

Yep, He don't need that Site No more He's got enough info and can do what he wants to do on the Other sides he's got.

He must be close to have the weapon He Needs/Want.

Is the site he's willing to abandon the mountain near the Chinese border that is said to be ready to implode from previous nuclear tests, thereby releasing a cloud of radioactivity across the Chinese border?

[AgMech Cowboy]

On ‎4‎/‎21‎/‎2018 at 6:07 AM, bluesofa said:

Steph's cartoon in the Nation today just about sums it up:

 

This is also a good depiction of what General Prayut thought when he sat the red shirts and yellow shirts together in an attempt to  get them to work together. To bad he didn't dissect them then. They are coming out of the wood work and carpets now. 

[digger70]

16 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

Is the site he's willing to abandon the mountain near the Chinese border that is said to be ready to implode from previous nuclear tests, thereby releasing a cloud of radioactivity across the Chinese border?

I am Not sure But Chinese Cientists said that there Was a Site (Mountain )that could Implode and leak some Nuclear waste in the air. I think That would the one Close to the China Border. That would be the one NK  don't want to use again.

[Basil B]

On 21/04/2018 at 4:15 AM, mike324 said:

I agree, folks who are thinking Trump is the hero now really don't read enough news.

I think there are few rednecks TV'ers who do not read much more than DT's Twiter posts and actually believe the sun shines out of his trousers.

[Basil B]

11 minutes ago, digger70 said:

I am Not sure But Chinese Cientists said that there Was a Site (Mountain )that could Implode and leak some Nuclear waste in the air. I think That would the one Close to the China Border. That would be the one NK  don't want to use again.

Did hear it said the last test rendered most of the site unusable, funny to see the Chinese worried about pollution.

[digger70]

1 minute ago, Basil B said:

Did hear it said the last test rendered most of the site unusable, funny to see the Chinese worried about pollution.

Yea but This Pollution Will Kill

[Basil B]

Just now, digger70 said:

Yea but This Pollution Will Kill

Much of the pollution in China is killing people daily...