Why it matters:
Kim Jong Un’s visit suggests a continued emphasis on an expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, to increase pressure on the United States following the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.
The big picture:
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim visited the nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute. Photos released by the North Korean agency indicated that Kim’s visit revealed that he likely visited a uranium enrichment facility.
That visit was North Korea’s first disclosure of a uranium enrichment facility since it showed one to visiting American scholars in 2010.
What they are saying:
According to the White House, Trump has said he is willing to talk to Mr Kim again to revive diplomacy.
National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said Trump will pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea just as he did in his first term.
Hughes said Trump had a good relationship with Kim Jong-un and that Trump’s mix of toughness and diplomacy led to the first-ever leader-level commitment to complete denuclearization, an apparent reference to the joint statement that Trump and Kim signed during their first summit in Singapore in June 2018.
Key points:
- Under the 2018 document, the two sides agreed to work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
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Hughes’ statement came amid concerns that the Trump administration might seek a “small deal” with the North rather than complete denuclearization.
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On Sunday, North Korea said it tested a cruise missile system, its third known weapons display this year, and vowed “the toughest” response to what it called the escalation of US-South Korean military drills.
Go deeper:
North Korea views US military training with South Korea as invasion rehearsals, though Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said their drills are defensive.
In recent years, the United States and South Korea have expanded their military exercises in response to North Korea’s advancing nuclear program.
The start of Mr Trump’s second term raises prospects for the revival of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, as Mr Trump met Mr Kim three times during his first term. The Trump-Kim diplomacy in 2018-19 fell apart due to wrangling over US-led economic sanctions on North Korea.
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