Skepticism greets N. Korea nuke news

Suspension comes 6 days before leaders meet for discussions

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says he will suspend nuclear and missile tests. The surprise announcement comes before Kim is set to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a precursor to a historic summit between Kim and President Trump.

TOKYO — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared he will suspend nuclear and missile tests starting Saturday, and will shut down the site where the previous six nuclear tests were conducted.

The surprising announcement comes six days before Kim is set to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a precursor to a historic summit between Kim and President Donald Trump in May or June.

Moon and Trump have said that North Korea, which last year crowed about developing a “super large heavy warhead” and the missiles to deliver it to the mainland United States, was willing to “denuclearize.”

But there has been skepticism that Kim, having poured so much money and effort into the program, plus his personal prestige, would give it up so readily.

The North’s Korean Central News Agency said in a report Saturday that it “will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles” effective immediately.

“The North will (also) shut down a nuclear test site in the country’s northern side to prove the vow to suspend nuclear test,” KCNA reported.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, convened Friday to discuss policy issues related to “a new stage” in a “historic” period.

The news agency quoted Kim as saying during the meeting, “Nuclear development has proceeded scientifically and in due order, and the development of the delivery strike means also proceeded scientifically and verified the completion of nuclear weapons.

“We no longer need any nuclear test or test launches of intermediate and intercontinental range ballistic missiles, and because of this, the northern nuclear test site has finished its mission.”

But analysts noted that it made no mention of giving up its program, simply signaling a freeze.

Still, the step is part of a broader and rapidly developing effort to use diplomacy to resolve the standoff on the Korean Peninsula, following months of threats at the end of last year that stoked fears of a military conflict.

Kim on Friday will cross the Military Demarcation Line that has divided the peninsula since the Korean War ended in 1953, becoming the first North Korean leader to do so since the war’s end.

He will step into the Peace House on the southern side of the line to meet Moon, with their encounter being broadcast live.

Moon signaled this week that everything was on the table at the meeting.

“North Korea is expressing its intention for complete denuclearization,” Moon said Thursday. “And it is not making demands that the U.S. cannot accept, such as the withdrawal of the U.S. forces in Korea.”

The U.S. military has 28,000 troops in South Korea, with backups in Japan and on Guam — the legacy of the standoff that has ensued since the Korean War ended in an armistice.

This comes less than a week before Kim is due to meet with Moon in the first inter-Korean summit in 11 years.

Trump also this week voiced optimism about his summit with Kim, although he said he would walk away from the talks if they were not looking constructive.

“I think we’re going to be successful,” Trump said. “But for any reason if I think we’re not, we end.”

As the presidents of South Korea and the United States prepare for summits with the previously reclusive Kim, there has been lots of conjecture about what the North Korean leader is prepared to discuss.

But North Korea had said little about this — and that has plenty of analysts worried that expectations for the summit are too high.

Some analysts see Kim as entering the upcoming negotiations from a position of strength after having declared his nuclear force as complete in November.

South Korean and U.S. officials have said Kim is likely trying to save his broken economy from heavy sanctions.

The fact that North Korea has signaled it is prepared to at least freeze its program is significant, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association in Washington.

“North Korea’s pledge to close down its nuclear weapons testing site is a very significant pledge toward denuclearization,” Kimball said.

“The U.S. and others should solidify this by securing North Korean signature and ratification of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, along with confidence building visit by the Comprehensive Test Ban Organization.”