by Francesco Fontemaggi / Dave Clark © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States promised Friday that it would work to rebuild North Korea’s sanctions-crippled economy if Kim Jong Un’s regime agrees to surrender its nuclear arsenal. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s vow came as senior US officials expressed growing optimism ahead of the landmark June 12 summit between Kim and President Donald Trump. Pompeo, who held talks Pyongyang’s young leader over […]
Tag: Nuclear
French FM slams ‘unacceptable’ US sanctions on Iran
PARIS, France (AFP) — France’s foreign minister on Thursday condemned the United States for reimposing sanctions against foreign companies trading with Iran, labelling the move “unacceptable” in comments that expose the deepening rift between Washington and its European allies on the issue. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of a landmark deal curbing Iran’s nuclear program and reintroducing sanctions on the Islamic republic and those who trade with it. The decision […]
US says Iran nuclear inspections must continue
by Andrew Beatty Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The White House wants intrusive inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites to continue despite President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from a landmark accord on Tehran’s atomic program, US officials have told AFP. Days after the US president walked away from a three-year-old deal that mandated rigorous scrutiny of Iranian facilities, senior administration officials said monitoring should continue regardless. Known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the […]
Putin voices ‘deep concern’ at Trump Iran move: Kremlin
by Anna Malpas © Agence France-Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks, after expressing his “deep concern” over US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Netanyahu, who has backed Trump’s decision on Iran, Israel’s arch-foe, said after the meeting that he shared his “views on issues that include Iran’s secret nuclear archive” and the “current tension” with the Russian leader. “I […]
South Korean president asks UN to verify closure of North’s test site
UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — South Korean President Moon Jae-in has asked the United Nations to verify the planned closure of North Korea’s nuclear test site, a UN spokesman said Tuesday. Moon made the request in a phone call to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, a few days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told the South Korean leader he planned to shut down the test site in May. “The president sought […]
N. Korea offers to shut nuclear test site in May, invite US experts
by Jung Hawon with Mandel Ngan in Washington, Michigan Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea has promised to shut its atomic test site within weeks and invite American weapons experts to verify its closure, Seoul reported Sunday, as new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington had an “obligation” to pursue peace. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — who may meet US President Donald Trump as early as next […]
N. Korea offers to shut nuclear test site in May, invite US experts
by Jung Hawon / With Mandel Egan in Washington, Michigan © Agence France-Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea promised to close its atomic test site next month and invite US weapons experts to the country, Seoul said Sunday, as Donald Trump expressed optimism about securing a nuclear deal in his summit with the secretive regime. The reported pledge from the North’s leader Kim Jong Un follows weeks of whirlwind diplomacy that saw […]
Trump: US has conceded ‘nothing’ to N.Korea
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump asserted Sunday that North Korea has agreed to “denuclearization” and a halt to testing while the United States had so far conceded “nothing” in return. North Korea pledged this week to halt nuclear and missile tests as the two countries prepare for a summit between Kim Jong Un and Trump but have not committed to giving up its nuclear weapons — which Pyongyang views as a shield […]
Kim heralds more N. Korea economic reforms: analysts
by Sebastien Berger © Agence France-Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s promise to build “socialist economic construction” in his nuclear-armed but impoverished and isolated country could herald more Chinese-style economic reforms, according to analysts — but he will never explicitly say so. Alongside the declaration Saturday that the North had completed the development of its nuclear arsenal and no more atomic or missile tests were needed, Kim proclaimed that the […]
North Korea’s nuclear declaration: what it does and does not mean
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared an end to the nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests that sent tensions soaring on the peninsula, in the region, and beyond. The move, enshrined in a decision by the ruling Workers’ Party, comes ahead of a summit with the South’s President Moon Jae-in next week, and with a much-anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump due later. But it is only […]
Japan’s Abe welcomes N. Korea pledge, but defense chief vows pressure
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday cautiously welcomed North Korea’s pledge to halt nuclear tests and intercontinental missile launches but its defense minister warned Tokyo will continue to put maximum pressure on Pyongyang. “We welcome it as a forward-looking move… but an important thing is whether the move will lead to the complete abandonment of missile and nuclear developments in a verifiable and irreversible manner,” Abe told reporters. “We want to […]
N. Korea’s Kim promises no more nuclear or missile tests
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would halt nuclear tests and intercontinental missile launches, in a Saturday announcement welcomed by US President Donald Trump ahead of a much-anticipated summit between the two men. Pyongyang’s declaration, long sought by Washington, will be seen as a crucial step in the fast diplomatic dance on and around the Korean peninsula. It comes less than a week before the North Korean […]





