US-South Korea de-escalate with North Korea
On April 12, the United States and South Korea proposed to resume a 2005 aid agreement with North Korea that is no longer in effect.
Accordingly, these two countries will create conditions for Pyongyang to take "meaningful steps" towards nuclear disarmament.
In a joint statement issued as Mr. John Kerry concluded his first visit to South Korea, the two countries agreed to focus on diplomatic measures to resolve tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
In a joint statement, US Secretary of State Kerry welcomed the "progress in building confidence" that President
North Korean soldiers practice shooting at South Korean targets (photo: Guardian)
Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce in the capital
In another development on the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed support for Switzerland's idea of hosting six-party talks - including China, Russia, the US, Japan and the two Koreas - in an effort to ease tensions related to the Korean peninsula.
Meanwhile, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has shown no signs of backing down. On April 12, they announced their decision to upgrade the General Department of Nuclear Energy to the Ministry of Nuclear Energy Industry.
“The DPRK has decided to establish a Ministry of Nuclear Industry to modernize the nuclear industry and introduce the most advanced science and technology to the field,” said an announcer on North Korea’s state-run KRT television. “The establishment of the new ministry will produce more nuclear fuel and improve the quality and independence of the nuclear industry.”
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North Korean parliament has approved the establishment of a new ministry tasked with providing high-quality fissile material and building independent nuclear capabilities. The establishment of the ministry comes after North Korea recently adopted a strategy to strive to improve its nuclear weapons capabilities while promoting economic development./.
According to VOV-M
