Trump thanks North Korea for pledge to collapse nuclear test tunnel
The US President praised North Korea's move to demonstrate its commitment to denuclearization ahead of the upcoming summit.
 |
| A tunnel portal at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in 2016. Photo: Digital Globe. |
"North Korea has announced they will destroy their nuclear test site this month, ahead of the big meeting on June 12. Thank you, a very smart and gracious gesture," Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter yesterday, according toAFP.
Earlier, North Korea's state news agency KCNA said Pyongyang would collapse tunnels with explosives, seal tunnel entrances, and dismantle all observatories, research facilities, and security posts in the Punggye-ri area on May 23-25 under the witness of foreign journalists, including those from the US and South Korea.
In early May, Pyongyang removed cables from the tunnel at the Punggye-ri test site, beginning the process of decommissioning the facility, which was also seen as Pyongyang's first move to fulfill a commitment by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Punggye-ri was the site of all six of North Korea's nuclear tests, including the most recent one nine years ago, which the country claimed was a hydrogen bomb, its most powerful yet. Western experts have warned that the mountain could collapse if North Korea conducts another nuclear test there.
After months of confrontation over tough sanctions and tough rhetoric, the US president and North Korean leader are scheduled to meet in Singapore on June 12 to discuss denuclearization. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US and North Korea are "in complete agreement" on the purpose of the summit.