North Korea to suspend nuclear missile tests and will close nuke test site

Christal Hayes | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption North Korea's Kim suspends nuclear, missile test North Korea's Kim suspends nuclear, missile test

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced he will suspend nuclear and long-range missile tests and plans to close a nuclear test site.

The Korean Central News Agency, which is North Korea's state media agency, made the announcement as the nation's reclusive leader is in ongoing peace talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Kim is also in negotiations to meet with President Trump.

"As the weaponisation of nuclear weapons has been verified, it is not necessary for us to conduct any more nuclear tests," Kim said at a meeting of the Worker's Party of Korea, adding "the northern nuclear test site has completed its mission."

North and South Korea may soon announce the official end to their war South and North Korea are discussing plans to announce an official end to the military conflict between the two countries that are still technically at war, the Munhwa Ilbo newspaper reported, citing an unidentified South Korean official.

The Korean Central News Agency said the nation would freeze its nuclear tests and long-range missiles, specifically intercontinental ballistic missiles on April 21.

The agency added, "the North will shut down a nuclear test site in the country's northern side to prove the vow to suspend nuclear test."

After the announcement, President Trump posted on Twitter that the move was "very good news."

"North Korea has agreed to suspend all Nuclear Tests and close up a major test site," he said. "This is very good news for North Korea and the World - big progress! Look forward to our Summit."

North Korea has agreed to suspend all Nuclear Tests and close up a major test site. This is very good news for North Korea and the World - big progress! Look forward to our Summit. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2018

Just days earlier, President Trump expressed a caution about the planned meeting with Kim, explaining he would "leave the meeting" if it's not "fruitful."

While exuding confidence about North Korea on Wednesday, Trump also raised the possibility that the yet-to-be scheduled summit might be called off because of a lack of agreement over an agenda — or that it might not be successful.

"Hopefully, that meeting will be a great success," Trump said.

For months, North Korea's missile tests have raised concerns around the world and helped escalate a dangerous slinging of insults between Kim and Trump.

More: N. Korea wants 'complete denuclearization,' not U.S. troop withdrawal, South's leader says

Related: Trump voices hope for North Korea summit but warns he may 'leave the meeting' if not fruitful

Friday's announcement of a freeze on tests and the shutdown of a facility is sure to be a step in the right direction but Trump has said he will seek an agreement in which North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons, a goal that many analysts believe will be challenging.

It's also unclear whether strings might be attached to the freeze of tests or how long this suspension might really last.

North Korea previously pledged on two occasions that it would abandon its nuclear programs. Both times it backtracked.

Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told USA TODAY the North likely has a list of demands, some of which might be hard for the U.S. to meet.

The North is likely to want the U.S. to curtail joint exercises with South Korea, and to withdraw both its advanced missile defense system and nuclear equipment – including bombers and submarines – from the area, he said.

Currently, there are 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea, a move that followed 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice and not a peace treaty.

Contributing: David Jackson, Jane Onyanga-Omara and Oren Dorell of USA TODAY.

Follow Christal Hayes on Twitter: Journo_Christal