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North Korea cancels talks with South, threatens to pull out of U.S. summit: Report

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By Guy Taylor – The Washington Times

North Korea has suddenly canceled high-level talks with South Korea that were planned for Wednesday and threatened to pull out of the upcoming summit with President Trump amid frustration in Pyongyang over ongoing joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, according to report in Seoul.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that the North’s main state-controlled media outlet, the KCNA, announced that the annual “Max Thunder” joint drills underway between the South Korean and U.S. air forces are a rehearsal for an invasion of the North and a provocation.

Yonhap issued a separate news bulletin that the North had also threatened to “cancel the U.S. summit,” an apparent reference to the June 12 meeting slated to occur between Mr. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore, because of the ongoing drills.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said of the report, “The United States will look at what North Korea has said independently, and continue to coordinate closely with our allies.” She did not elaborate.

President Trump didn’t respond to reporters’ shouted questions about the fate of the North Korea summit as he left the White House late Tuesday afternoon.

State Department officials responded cautiously, with department spokeswoman Heather Nauert telling reporters

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Breaking: North Korea to publicly close nuclear test site on May 23-25, invites journalists

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it will hold a “ceremony” for the dismantling of its nuclear test site on May 23-25 in what would be a dramatic but symbolic event to set up leader Kim Jong Un’s summit with President Donald Trump next month.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday that all of the tunnels at the country’s northeastern testing ground will be destroyed by explosion, and that observation and research facilities and ground-based guard units will also be removed.

The North said it plans to invite journalists from the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and Britain to inspect the process.

Kim had revealed plans to shut down the nuclear test site during his summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in last month.

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Trump: Three US detainees released from North Korea

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US President Donald Trump has announced that three American citizens detained in North Korea have been released and are on their way back to the US along with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

US President Donald Trump announced on Twitter that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had successfully secured the released of three American citizens detained in North Korea.

The president tweeted that Pompeo was on his way back to the US from Pyongyang with the three released prisoners. “I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting,” he tweeted, adding the former detainees appeared “to be in good health.”

Who are three US citizens released by North Korea?

  • Kim Hak-song, who is in his mid-50s, was working at Pyongyang’s University of Science and Technology (PUST), specializing in agricultural development, during the time of his arrest. Born in Jilin, China, Kim went to university in California and continued to live in the US for 10 years. He subsequently moved back to China before going on to work in Pyongyang. He was arrested in May 2017 on suspicion of planning to commit “hostile acts” against the government, according to the North.
  • Kim Sang-duk, who also goes by the name Tony Kim, is a former professor at China’s Yanbian University of Science and Technology, close to the Korean border. The university website lists his speciality as accounting. South Korea media reported that Kim, who is reportedly in his 50s, had taken part in relief work in North Korea’s rural parts and also taught at PUST. He was arrested in Pyongyang although the reason for his arrest remains unclear.
  • Kim Dong-chulis a South Korea-born American businessman and pastor in his 60s. He was arrested in October 2015 after allegedly receiving a USB stick containing confidential military information and nuclear secrets from a North Korea soldier. He was charged by North Korean authorities in April 2016 with subversion and espionage, and sentenced to 10 years’ hard  In a January 2016 interview with CNN, Kim said he was a naturalized American living in Fairfax, Virginia. He also said that he had previously run a hotel services company in North Korea’s special economic zone of Rason, located near the border with China and Russia.
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Path to denuclearization? North Korea announces 6 pivotal decisions

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North Korea denuclearization

Pyongyang has declared a new strategic course for the country, announcing an indefinite suspension of all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, in the run-up to the planned meeting between Kim Jon-un and US President Donald Trump.

At a plenary meeting of the central committee of the Worker’s Party of Korea, the ruling party has outlined six crucial decisions:

#1. North Korea ‘solemnly’ declared that its previous ballistic and missile tests have allowed the country to successfully miniaturize warheads and develop their means of delivery.

#2. Effective immediately, any further nuclear and ballistic missile tests will be frozen, starting April 21, 2018

#3. North Korea’s nuclear test center will be discarded in order to ensure the transparency of the nuclear research suspension.

#4. Pyongyang will never use nuclear weapons, unless there is a “nuclear threat or nuclear provocation” against North Korea, and “in no case will proliferate nuclear weapons and nuclear technology.”

#5. From now on, all Pyongyang’s efforts will be concentrated on building up a strong socialist economy, while the human and material resources of the country will be mobilized to dramatically raise people’s quality of life.

#6. Pyongyang will establish a favorable international environment and will intensify close dialogue with neighboring countries and the international community, in order to protect the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the world.

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Donald Trump tells UN: ‘I will always put America First’ “totally destroy” North Korea

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US President Donald Trump has stressed sovereignty in his first address to world leaders at the UN General Assembly. Trump has also vowed to “totally destroy” North Korea if the reclusive state doesn’t relent.

US President Donald Trump said that the world is facing a “time of both immense promise and great peril” in his first address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Trump also praised the notion of the nation-state and told world leaders that he would always put his country first, encouraging others to do the same.

“As long as I hold this office, I will defend America’s interests above all else, but in fulfilling our obligations to our nations, we also realize that it’s in everyone’s interests to seek the future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous and secure,” he said.

One day prior, he had urged the 193-nation organization to cut costs and reduce bureaucracy, saying that the UN had not reached its full potential due to “mismanagement.”

Read also: Russia, China urge ‘peaceful’ solution with North Korea

Trump calls out ‘rouge states’

Loud murmurs filled the UN General Assembly hall when Trump issued a strong warning to North Korea, calling it a “rouge state.”

Unless North Korea backs down from its nuclear standoff, Trump said Washington “will have no choice than to totally destroy North Korea.”

“Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime,” Trump said, referring to leader Kim Jong Un.

He also denounced the Iran nuclear deal, in a possible sign that he wants to pull the US out from the international agreement.

“Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don’t think you’ve heard the last of it,” Trump said.

“Believe me. It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran’s government end its pursuit of death and destruction.”

UN chief takes a swipe at Trump

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used his first speech at the General Assembly to urge for diplomacy to avoid war with North Korea. He warned that “fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings” in a possible swipe at both Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“This is the time for statesmanship,” said the former prime minister of Portugal. “We must not sleepwalk our way into war.”

Trump previously warned of “fire and fury” if Pyongyang does not back down from its threats.

Guterres also criticized world leaders for stoking resentment and fear of refugees for political gain as well as urged for more to be done to combat climate change.

“It is high time to get off the path of suicidal emissions. We know enough today to act. The science is unassailable,” the UN chief said.

This is a developing story and will be updated as events progress.

rs/kl (AP, Reuters)

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Japan deploys missile defense systems due to North Korea threat

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Due to the missile attack threat by North Korea, Japan has brought its missile defense systems to combat-readiness, reported RBC news agency of Russia. Such systems have been deployed in western Japan.

In addition, a cruiser, which is equipped with a system that can detect the launching of ballistic missiles, has been dispatched to the Sea of Japan.

According to a recent statement by North Korean authorities, if they were to launch ballistic missiles toward the American military base on the island of Guam, these missiles will fly over three Japanese prefectures.

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United State Defense chief: North Korea must stop actions that would “lead to the end of the regime”

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Secretary of Defense James Mattis has called on North Korea to stop considering “actions that will lead to the end of the regime.”

“The DPRK must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons,” he said in a statement. “The DPRK should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people.”

He added: “The DPRK regime’s actions will continue to be grossly overmatched by ours and would lose any arms race or conflict it initiates.”

Hawaii is preparing for a nuclear attack

Hawaii is the first US state to make preparations in case of a nuclear attack from North Korea. Experts says that from the time North Korea launches a nuclear missile, people on the Hawaiian islands would have about 15 minutes to take cover.

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US and North Korea on brink of war

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A US bomber flies over the Korean peninsula (Image: REUTERS)

As Trump flies supersonic B-1B bombers from threatened island of Guam,

Fresh tensions between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un have raised fears of a devastating nuclear war between the US and North Korea.

The US military this morning released pictures of supersonic B-1B bombers flying from Guam after North Korea threatened to strike an American airbase on the remote Pacific island.

Two US Air Force B-1B jets took part in 10-hour mission over the Korean peninsula just hours before Kim Jong-un revealed his plans.

On Monday, Trump warned any threat to America would be met with “fire and fury”.

US Secretary of State: Trump is using ‘language Kim Jong-un will understand’

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Trump is sending a strong message to North Korea “in a language Kim Jong-un would understand”.

He told reporters the North Korean leader does not understand diplomatic language.

Tillerson said while he doesn’t believe North Korea poses an imminent threat, Trump wanted to deliver message that would avoid any miscalculation in Pyongyang.

“Americans should sleep well at night,” he said.

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Breaking News: Trump: to North Korea “They will be met fire and fury” President Trump just issued a warning :

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President Trump just issued a warning :

We’ve heard this from North Korea before. The difference now is…

In 2015, North Korea said it had the ability to miniaturize nuclear weapons. In March 2017, North Korea claimed it made that happen, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported at the time.

A US intelligence assessment concluded in March this year that North Korea “probably” possesses that kind miniaturized nuclear warhead.

At that time, the US officials who said North Korea likely has the warhead noted that they don’t know if the device would actually work. That assessment had yet to become a formal consensus view of the US government.

The difference now? US intelligence has assessed that North Korea has produced this kind of technology.

 

 

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