North Korea 'halts missile and nuclear tests', says Kim

Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says he has suspended all missile tests and will shut down a nuclear test site, A BBC News report said on Saturday."From 21 April, North Korea will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles," the country's state news agency -- KCNA -- said.Mr Kim said further tests were unnecessary because Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities had been "verified".The surprise announcement comes as North Korea prepares for historic talks with South Korea and the US.

Mr Kim is due to meet his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in next week for the first inter-Korean summit in over a decade, and US President Donald Trump by June.Both countries have been pushing Pyongyang to denuclearise and they reacted positively to the latest development."This is very good news for North Korea and the World - big progress!" Mr Trump tweeted after the announcement.On Thursday, the US leader said there was a "bright path available to North Korea when it achieves denuclearisation".A spokesperson for the South Korean president called the North's move "meaningful progress"."It will also contribute to creating a very positive environment for the success of the upcoming South-North summit and North-United States summit," a statement from Mr Moon's office said.

China, North Korea's main ally, also welcomed the move, saying it would "help ameliorate the situation on the peninsula".The decision to suspend missile launches was made during a meeting of the ruling party's central committee on Friday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.In a statement quoted by the agency, Mr Kim said it was no longer necessary to conduct missile tests because "nuclear weaponisation" had been achieved."The northern nuclear test site has completed its mission," he said.

This echoes a previous statement made during a New Year address in which Mr Kim declared his nuclear and ballistic missile programmes completed.After six nuclear tests North Korea may feel it does not need to upgrade its existing designs, says the BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul.Although Pyongyang said it would abolish its nuclear test site, there is no indication it is planning to get rid of its existing weapons.The decision to halt missile tests is also aimed at pursuing economic growth, according to KCNA. Mr Kim reportedly pledged to "concentrate all efforts" on developing a socialist economy during Friday's meeting.

These concessions from North Korea have come before the two anticipated summits with the US and South Korea.One may wonder why Mr Kim should give up so much in advance instead of hanging on to a nuclear test-ban and an ICBM moratorium as aces up his sleeve.The answer is simple: a summit with a US president is enough of a prize in itself. For Mr Kim, it's something that neither his grandfather nor his father could attain.What North Korea loses by demolishing its nuclear test site and submitting to a unilateral moratorium on ICBM launches is entirely tolerable compared to what Mr Kim gains by sitting alongside President Trump.

Mr Trump surprised the international community last month by accepting Pyongyang's suggestion for direct talks. It would be unprecedented for a sitting US president to meet a North Korean leader.He has said the summit will take place either in early June or "a little before that" and that several sites are under consideration.
(UNI)