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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has observed the successful testing of a "newly developed state-of-the-art tactical weapon," the state press reported Friday. apparently to put pressure on the United States and South Korea.
This did not seem to be the test of a nuclear machine or a long-range missile that could target the United States. Many trials of this type last year made many fear the war before the North turned to engagement and diplomacy. Nevertheless, any mention of weapons testing could influence the direction of Washington's stalled diplomatic efforts aimed at ridding the North of its nuclear weapons.
The North has not publicly tested any weapons since November 2017, but in recent days, Pyongyang has reportedly expressed anger over US international sanctions and the ongoing small-scale military exercises between South Korea and the United States. .
Earlier this month, the North Korean Foreign Ministry warned that it could resume its policy of strengthening its nuclear arsenal if it did not benefit from reduced sanctions.
"It's a coercive diplomacy to North Korea. North Korea says, "If you do not listen to us, you will face a political burden," said analyst Shin Beomchul of the Seoul Asan Institute of Political Studies.
Diplomacy has broken down since the summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in June, with Washington calling for more action for nuclear disarmament and the North insisting that the US government first approve a peace declaration. officially ending the Korean War and lifting the sanctions.
Shin said that the weapon tested by North Korea could be a missile, an artillery, an anti-aircraft gun, a drone or any other conventional high-tech weapons system.
Yang Wook, a Seoul-based military expert, said that a "tactical weapon" in North Korea was referring to "a weapon aimed at hitting South Korea, including US military bases," so that the North may have tested a short-range missile or several rocket launch system.
Even though the test was a message to Washington and Seoul, Friday's report from the North was far less bellicose than previous weapons testing announcements, and did not focus on North Korean claims of American hostility. and South Korean.
Yang said that the latest North Korean test would not result in a complete breakdown of nuclear diplomacy, but that other questions would be raised about the sincerity of the North's commitment to nuclear diplomacy. denuclearization.
Asked about the test, the US State Department said the US and North Korean authorities were talking about the implementation of the commitments made by Trump and Kim at their June meeting in Singapore. Eugene Lee, spokesman for the Unification Ministry of South Korea, declined to comment on Kim's inspection of the weapons test.
US Vice President Mike Pence, attending a Southeast Asian summit in Singapore, spoke of "great progress" made on North Korea but said that there was still a lot left to make.
A year and a half ago, "nuclear tests were taking place, missiles were flying over Japan, and threats and propaganda had been directed against our nation and the nations of the region," said Mr. Pence.
"Today, no more missiles fly, no more nuclear tests, our hostages have returned home and North Korea has returned to the ground to return US heroes who died in the Korean War. We have made great progress, but there is still a long way to go, "he said.
Pence emphasized that the sanctions imposed by the United States should remain in force.
According to the Unification Ministry of South Korea, this was the first field inspection of a weapons test conducted by Kim Jong Un since the observation of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile tests. last November.
The North said the test had taken place at the National Defense Academy of Sciences and that Kim could not suppress his "passionate joy" over his success. He was described as "very pleased to say that another great job had been accomplished by defense scientists and munitions industry workers in order to increase the country's defense capabilities. ".
In the opinion of many experts, the series of increasingly powerful weapons tests of last year has placed the North at the edge of a viable arsenal of missiles to nuclear end that can target anywhere on the American continent.
Trump and Kim are both interested in another summit, but we do not know when it could happen. Pence said the next meeting would allow both leaders to put on paper what they discussed at their last summit.
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Associate press reporter Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, Annabelle Liang in Singapore and Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this article.
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