North Korea invites world to witness bombing of its nuclear test site tunnels
US promises Pyongyang economic recovery on a par with its neighbours if it gives up nuclear weapons
NORTH KOREA has announced it will hold a ceremony this month for the dismantling of its nuclear test site.
The country’s central news agency said tunnels in its north-eastern testing ground would be destroyed by explosives while observation facilities, research buildings and security posts would be closed.
The event, to which journalists from across the world will be invited, is set to take place between May 23 and 25, depending on the weather.
The news came as Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, said America was prepared to help the regime recover economically if it scrapped its nuclear project. It will precede Donald Trump’s meeting with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, scheduled for June 12 in Singapore. David Beasley, executive director of the UN’s World Food Programme, said yesterday after a visit to the country that he believed North Korean leaders wanted change. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We must capture this moment. I am hopeful. I do believe there’s a genuine desire to move forward, but time will tell.”
Mr Pompeo, who has visited North Korea twice recently, said the country could have a bright economic future if it quickly agreed to give up its nuclear weapons, promising to reward Pyongyang by propelling it towards the same levels of prosperity as the neighbouring South.
“If Chairman Kim chooses the right path, there is a future brimming with peace and prosperity for the North Korean people,” Mr Pompeo declared.
His comments set a positive tone for the June talks, and follow a goodwill gesture from Pyongyang after Kim agreed last week to release three Americans held prisoner there.
Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s prime minister, hailed the decision to hold the “historic and momentous event” in his tiny nation. The news was wel- comed by the public despite concerns over security, roadblocks and traffic jams on the 85-mile long island.
Local media have already touted possible venues for the meeting, including the glitzy Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino resort, owned by Sheldon Adelson, an American business magnate and one of the largest donors to the Republican party.
However, the luxury five-star Shangri-La hotel, a short distance from Singapore’s main shopping boulevard, is “top of the list”, said Toby Koh, group managing director of Ademco Security.
The hotel has hosted annual meetings of defence ministers and military chiefs since 2002 and its security procedures were “down pat,” said Mr Koh.
The luxurious settings Singapore has to offer will do little to detract from the difficulty of the negotiations the leaders face. Despite easing tensions, Pyongyang has given few indications of being willing to go beyond sweeping statements in support of the concept of denuclearisation. Analysts say the closure of the nuclear test site is mostly symbolic.
Washington, meanwhile, remains committed to the “complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement” of North Korea’s nuclear programme.
Nevertheless, Mr Pompeo described his meeting with Kim last week in Pyongyang as warm, as they communicated “mutual objectives.”
“We talked about the fact that America has often in history had adversaries who we are now close partners with and our hope is that we can achieve the same with respect to North Korea,” he said.