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North Korean leader supervised ‘new weapon’ test again

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SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un once again supervised a “new weapon” launch, state media said on Saturday, complicating efforts at denuclearization ahead of next week’s visit to Seoul by the US envoy to Pyongyang. Friday’s launch was the North’s sixth test in recent weeks as it protests the annual US-South Korea military exercises which Pyongyang considers rehearsals for invasion.


‘PERFECT RESULT’


Defence officials in Seoul said Pyongyang fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles Friday, that flew some 230 kilometres before splashing down in the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan.


A report by the official Korean Central News Agency said the tests had a “perfect result”, which helped “cement bigger confidence in this weapon system”.


“Juche shells were fired in the presence of the Supreme Leader,” KCNA said.


Pyongyang has routinely expressed anger at the war games, but in the past has avoided carrying out tests while the manoeuvres are taking place. The KCNA report came after Pyongyang called South Korean President Moon Jae-in “impudent” for hoping to resume inter-Korean talks while continuing military drills with Washington.


Plans to resume working-level talks between the North and Washington appear to have stalled since an impromptu June meeting between leaders of the two countries.


But US President Donald Trump, who has been playing down Pyongyang’s tests, said last week that he had received a “very beautiful letter” from Kim.


TALKS IN STALEMATE


Last week, Trump played down the North’s recent missile tests, saying they do not violate Kim’s pledge to forego nuclear and long-range tests.


Trump also said that he had just received a “very beautiful letter’ from Kim and added that he could have another meeting with him.


The denuclearization talks have been in a stalemate since a June 30 meeting between the two leaders. Stephen Biegun, the US special envoy for North Korea, will travel to Japan and South Korea next week for talks on denuclearizing the North, the US State Department said on Friday.


The North has said nuclear talks would be “strictly” between Pyongyang and Washington, refusing to hold separate dialogue with the South.


— AFP


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