Japanese report to say North Korea has miniaturised nuclear warheads - newspaper
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Aug 22, 2019
Citing the joint drill that ended Tuesday and South Korea's introduction of high-tech weapons from the USA, the paper blamed Washington for heightening tensions, which it said could hamper efforts for constructive dialogue.
Kim has said talks with the USA about the denuclearization of North Korea could resume once the military drills end later this month, but has balked at new negotiations with South Korea.
At their June 30 meeting at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom, Trump and Kim agreed that Washington and Pyongyang would resume stalled denuclearization talks within weeks, but they have yet to take place.
"It was senseless to think that inter-Korean dialogue would resume once the military drills with the United States were over", a spokesperson for North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country said.
"In that sense, I want to firmly make progress towards resolving (this matter)", Kono said outside the Chinese capital of Beijing, in comments carried live on Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
Berger is set to travel to South Korea Thursday to discuss cooperation between the US and Seoul.
Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan "could very well be" Washington's next ambassador to Russian Federation, U.S. President Donald Trump said on August 20.
Also Wednesday, North Korea voiced its eagerness via its state-run media to continue developing and testing new weapons while accusing the United States of seeking confrontation through joint military drills with the South. -South Korean drills ended and that Kim offered him "a small apology" over the weapons tests.
South Korea's 2018 Defence White Paper, released in January, reported that North Korea's ability to miniaturize nuclear weapons "appears to have reached a considerable level".
The UN nuclear watchdog expressed strong concern over nuclear activities in North Korea, saying there are indications some facilities are continuing to operate. Trump on Tuesday indicated he may nominate Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan to the position. This could happen during Stephen Biegun's three-day visit to Seoul yesterday. "I am fully committed to this important mission, and we will get this done".
"I believe it will start in late August or early September". "He won't be able to work on this very much for over a year and a half". Neither side could agree on how to pair sanctions relief with steps to dismantle North Korea's nuclear program.
