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Saturday, April 21, 2018, 17:40
DPRK to suspend nuclear, ICBM tests
By Xinhua
Saturday, April 21, 2018, 17:40 By Xinhua

In this March 10, 2016, file photo, a TV screen shows a file footage of the missile launch conducted by the DPRK, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, the ROK. (AHN YOUNG-JOON / AP)

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will suspend nuclear tests and inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests immediately from Saturday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday. 


Fresh climate of detente and peace is being created on the Korean  Peninsula and the region and dramatic changes are being made in the international political landscape

 Kim Jong-un, DPRK top leader

The decision was announced by DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un at the Third Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) which took place in Pyongyang on Friday, reported KCNA.

The decision is another gesture made by Kim to seek an end to the confrontation with the United States and could pave the way for holding talks on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, said analysts.

It came days before Kim is due to meet with Republic of Korean President Moon Jae-in at the truce village of Panmunjom.

"The overall situation is rapidly changing in favor of the Korean revolution thanks to the DPRK's proactive action and efforts after the declaration of completing the state nuclear force last year," the DPRK leader.

"Fresh climate of detente and peace is being created on the Korean  Peninsula and the region and dramatic changes are being made in the international political landscape," he said.

ALSO READ: China supports possible peace treaty between DPRK, ROK

Kim said that all efforts of the nation must now concentrate on economic construction to upgrade the people's living standard.

The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK said the  DPRK's northern nuclear test ground would be dismantled to transparently guarantee the discontinuance of the nuclear test.

"The discontinuance of the nuclear test is an important process for the worldwide disarmament, and the DPRK will join the international desire and efforts for the total halt to the nuclear test in the world," the KCNA quoted a communique of the WPK session as saying.

"We will discontinue nuclear test and inter-continental ballistic rocket test-fire from April 21, 2018. The northern nuclear test ground of the DPRK will be dismantled to transparently guarantee the discontinuance of the nuclear test," KCNA said.

"The discontinuance of the nuclear test is an important process for the worldwide disarmament, and the DPRK will join the international desire and efforts for the total halt to the nuclear test," KCNA said.

The DPRK will never use nuclear weapons nor transfer nuclear weapons or nuclear technology under any circumstances unless there are nuclear threats and nuclear provocations against the country, it added.

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

READ MORE: DPRK agrees on third summit with ROK

The DPRK will aim to create an international environment favorable for its socialist economic construction and facilitate close contacts and active dialogues with neighboring countries and the international community in order to defend peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the world, it added.  

'MEANINGFUL PROGRESS'

The Republic of Korea's presidential Blue House hailed the DPRK's announcement as a "meaningful progress" toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which the entire world desires.

Yoo Young-chan, senior presidential press secretary, said it would contribute to setting a very positive tone for a success in the upcoming summits of Pyongyang with Seoul and Washington.

US President Donald Trump was upbeat on Pyongyang's announcement to suspend nuclear and ICBM test, saying the decision was "very good news" for the country and the world.

"Big progress!" he tweeted, adding that he looks forward to his meeting with the DPRK leader Kim.

Trump told the media on April 9 that he will meet with Kim in May or early June.

The European Union also welcomed Pyongyang's decision, wiht its foreign affairs chief saying the announcement was a positive step and calling for an "irreversible denuclearisation" of the country.

Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reacted with caution to DPRK's announcement, and said: "What is crucial here, however, is how this development is going to lead to the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of nuclear arms, weapons of mass destruction and missiles."


(With Agencies input)

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