Countries welcome North Korea's decision to demolish nuclear test site while Japan is not invited to the event
- 6 years ago
Watchers around the world were quick to pick up on North Korea's announcement on demolishing its nuclear test site.
And a clear message by the regime,... North Korea has invited reporters from only five countries,... four of the six-party nations, and the U.K.
Not on the list,... Japan.
Lee Ji-won tells us more.
North Korea's surprise announcement was welcomed by major stakeholders in the issue, especially U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Saturday, Trump tweeted his thanks to the North for its decision, calling it a very smart and gracious gesture.
The announcement comes exactly a month before the first ever North Korea-U.S. summit... set to be held in Singapore.
Some observers say this shows how determined the North is to denuclearize despite not being immediately rewarded for steps taken in that direction.
In the U.S., an official from the White House National Security Council reportedly said the council welcomes Pyongyang's announcement. The official also stressed that a thorough verification and inspection by international experts is key to denuclearizing Pyongyang.
North Korea's closest ally, China, also reported on the North's announcement in detail.
Chinese news outlets emphasized how Chinese journalists are among those from the five countries invited to witness the demolition.
Japan, however, was the only participant in the six-party talks not invited to send reporters... despite its latest efforts to get involved in the North Korea issue.
The North has been repeating that unless Japan repents for its past wrongdoings, it will not normalize ties with Tokyo.
Pyongyang also published commentary on Saturday accusing Japan of using what it called the already settled issue of Japanese abductees in the North to (quote) "foolishly" hinder the peaceful atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula.
It listed Japan's wrongdoings in its colonization of Korea in the early 1900s, and warned that "only redemption of the past can help Japan."
Japanese media seemed upset that the North excluded them. A number of outlets claimed Sunday that the nuclear test site could always be restored if it's not completely destroyed,... and that the demolition could be staged.
The right-wing Sankei Shimbun even said the event is being used to earn the regime foreign currency.
There has been no official statement yet from Tokyo.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.
And a clear message by the regime,... North Korea has invited reporters from only five countries,... four of the six-party nations, and the U.K.
Not on the list,... Japan.
Lee Ji-won tells us more.
North Korea's surprise announcement was welcomed by major stakeholders in the issue, especially U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Saturday, Trump tweeted his thanks to the North for its decision, calling it a very smart and gracious gesture.
The announcement comes exactly a month before the first ever North Korea-U.S. summit... set to be held in Singapore.
Some observers say this shows how determined the North is to denuclearize despite not being immediately rewarded for steps taken in that direction.
In the U.S., an official from the White House National Security Council reportedly said the council welcomes Pyongyang's announcement. The official also stressed that a thorough verification and inspection by international experts is key to denuclearizing Pyongyang.
North Korea's closest ally, China, also reported on the North's announcement in detail.
Chinese news outlets emphasized how Chinese journalists are among those from the five countries invited to witness the demolition.
Japan, however, was the only participant in the six-party talks not invited to send reporters... despite its latest efforts to get involved in the North Korea issue.
The North has been repeating that unless Japan repents for its past wrongdoings, it will not normalize ties with Tokyo.
Pyongyang also published commentary on Saturday accusing Japan of using what it called the already settled issue of Japanese abductees in the North to (quote) "foolishly" hinder the peaceful atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula.
It listed Japan's wrongdoings in its colonization of Korea in the early 1900s, and warned that "only redemption of the past can help Japan."
Japanese media seemed upset that the North excluded them. A number of outlets claimed Sunday that the nuclear test site could always be restored if it's not completely destroyed,... and that the demolition could be staged.
The right-wing Sankei Shimbun even said the event is being used to earn the regime foreign currency.
There has been no official statement yet from Tokyo.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.