South Korea will seek to hold talks, including summits, with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-be-very-very-disappointed-says-trump-over-reports-of-north-korea-rebuilding-rocket-site-201648">North Korea </a>this year to strengthen ties and revive the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-opposes-incremental-denuclearisation-of-north-korea-envoy-202676">denuclearisation</a>, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday.

The plan comes after the Hanoi summit last month between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-ready-to-meet-kim-jong-un-again-for-denuclearisation-talks-white-house-202451">United States President Donald Trump</a> and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which abruptly ended without a denuclearisation deal and no further plans for the sides to meet.

"In close coordination with the US, (we) will push for inter-Korean talks to help the US and North Korea meet again and reach an agreement on denuclearisation and corresponding measures," said the Ministry of Unification in a policy direction report for 2019 published on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The ministry, in charge of managing relations with the North, added that it will continue to work towards "close communications between the leaders of the South and the North" to strengthen ties and establish peace on the peninsula.&nbsp;

Seoul and Washington are technically at war with Pyongyang since the 1950s.

After February’s Hanoi summit ended without an agreement, Seoul has showed willingness to mediate to break the blockade in the denuclearization talks.

Last year, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim held three summits that were key for making it possible for Trump and the North Korean leader to meet.

Although Washington and Pyongyang give different versions of what happened at the Hanoi negotiating table, the disagreement revolved around the number of assets of the North Korean nuclear program to be dismantled and the volume of international sanctions on Pyongyang that would be alleviated as a "corresponding measure.”

US National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was with Trump in Hanoi, said on March 11 that Washington demanded the elimination of chemical and biological weapons and the North Korean ballistic missile program at the summit, in addition to the dismantling of atomic assets.

Seoul’s unification ministry also said it would take steps for economic cooperation between North and South Korea, particularly in relation to the Kaesong industrial park and tours of Mt Kumgang.

South Korea will seek to hold talks, including summits, with North Korea this year to strengthen ties and revive the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington on denuclearisation, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday.

South Korea will seek to hold talks, including summits, with North Korea this year to strengthen ties and revive the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington on denuclearisation, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday. The plan comes after the Hanoi summit last month between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which abruptly ended without a denuclearisation deal and no further plans for the sides to meet. "In close coordination with the US, (we) will push for inter-Korean talks to help the US and North Korea meet again and reach an agreement on denuclearisation and corresponding measures," said the Ministry of Unification in a policy direction report for 2019 published on Tuesday. The ministry, in charge of managing relations with the North, added that it will continue to work towards "close communications between the leaders of the South and the North" to strengthen ties and establish peace on the peninsula. Seoul and Washington are technically at war with Pyongyang since the 1950s. After February’s Hanoi summit ended without an agreement, Seoul has showed willingness to mediate to break the blockade in the denuclearization talks. Last year, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim held three summits that were key for making it possible for Trump and the North Korean leader to meet. Although Washington and Pyongyang give different versions of what happened at the Hanoi negotiating table, the disagreement revolved around the number of assets of the North Korean nuclear program to be dismantled and the volume of international sanctions on Pyongyang that would be alleviated as a "corresponding measure.” US National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was with Trump in Hanoi, said on March 11 that Washington demanded the elimination of chemical and biological weapons and the North Korean ballistic missile program at the summit, in addition to the dismantling of atomic assets. Seoul’s unification ministry also said it would take steps for economic cooperation between North and South Korea, particularly in relation to the Kaesong industrial park and tours of Mt Kumgang.

Seoul to seek meetings with Pyongyang to revive dialogue with Washington

Donald Trump's vision for North Korea

Malaysia's prime minister said Tuesday the surprise <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-court-frees-indonesian-in-kim-jong-nam-murder-case-202483">release of an Indonesian woman </a>who was on trial for assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother followed the "rule of law", after suspicions of meddling amid an intense lobbying effort by Jakarta.

Siti Aisyah was freed by a Malaysian court Monday after prosecutors withdrew a murder charge without any explanation, more than two years after her arrest for the 2017 assassination of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur airport.

Her sudden release prompted questions about interference in Malaysia's justice system, particularly after the Indonesian government revealed that it had lobbied Kuala Lumpur on the case, including pressure from President Joko Widodo.

But Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told reporters in parliament that the decision was in line with "the rule of law".

"There is a law that allows charges to be withdrawn. That was what happened. I do not know in detail the reasons," he said, adding he was unaware of any negotiations between Indonesia and Malaysia on the issue.

On Monday, Indonesian officials released a letter from the country's justice minister to Malaysia's attorney-general, which said Aisyah had been "deceived" and sought her release. The attorney-general agreed to the request last week.

Her swift release had sparked anger in Malaysia, and accusations that the government had caved in to diplomatic pressure.

"Any govt can just pressure Malaysia to release a suspect in a criminal case?" wrote one user on Facebook.

Another, John Lim, commented that Aisyah's release was "definitely not according to the rule of law".

She had been on trial alongside a Vietnamese woman, Doan Thi Huong, who was left distraught as she was not freed at the same time.

The pair always denied murder, insisting they were tricked by North Korean spies into carrying out the Cold War-style hit using a toxic nerve agent and thought it was just a prank.

Huong's lawyers have now asked the attorney-general to withdraw her murder charge, and prosecutors may on Thursday inform the Shah Alam High Court, outside Kuala Lumpur, whether the application has been successful.

The women's lawyers have presented them as scapegoats. They say the real murderers are four North Koreans -- formally accused of the crime alongside the women -- who fled Malaysia shortly after the assassination.

South Korea accuses the North of plotting the murder of Kim, an estranged relative of Kim Jong Un who was once seen as heir apparent to the North Korean leadership. Pyongyang denies the accusation.

Malaysia's prime minister said Tuesday the surprise release of an Indonesian woman who was on trial for assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother followed the "rule of law", after suspicions of meddling amid an intense lobbying effort by Jakarta.

Malaysia's prime minister said Tuesday the surprise release of an Indonesian woman who was on trial for assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother followed the "rule of law", after suspicions of meddling amid an intense lobbying effort by Jakarta. Siti Aisyah was freed by a Malaysian court Monday after prosecutors withdrew a murder charge without any explanation, more than two years after her arrest for the 2017 assassination of Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur airport. Her sudden release prompted questions about interference in Malaysia's justice system, particularly after the Indonesian government revealed that it had lobbied Kuala Lumpur on the case, including pressure from President Joko Widodo. But Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told reporters in parliament that the decision was in line with "the rule of law". "There is a law that allows charges to be withdrawn. That was what happened. I do not know in detail the reasons," he said, adding he was unaware of any negotiations between Indonesia and Malaysia on the issue. On Monday, Indonesian officials released a letter from the country's justice minister to Malaysia's attorney-general, which said Aisyah had been "deceived" and sought her release. The attorney-general agreed to the request last week. Her swift release had sparked anger in Malaysia, and accusations that the government had caved in to diplomatic pressure. "Any govt can just pressure Malaysia to release a suspect in a criminal case?" wrote one user on Facebook. Another, John Lim, commented that Aisyah's release was "definitely not according to the rule of law". She had been on trial alongside a Vietnamese woman, Doan Thi Huong, who was left distraught as she was not freed at the same time. The pair always denied murder, insisting they were tricked by North Korean spies into carrying out the Cold War-style hit using a toxic nerve agent and thought it was just a prank. Huong's lawyers have now asked the attorney-general to withdraw her murder charge, and prosecutors may on Thursday inform the Shah Alam High Court, outside Kuala Lumpur, whether the application has been successful. The women's lawyers have presented them as scapegoats. They say the real murderers are four North Koreans -- formally accused of the crime alongside the women -- who fled Malaysia shortly after the assassination. South Korea accuses the North of plotting the murder of Kim, an estranged relative of Kim Jong Un who was once seen as heir apparent to the North Korean leadership. Pyongyang denies the accusation.

Release of Indonesian woman in North Korea case within rules: Malaysian PM

South Korea's military said Monday it was closely monitoring North Korean facilities after a series of satellite images triggered an international alarm that Pyongyang might be preparing a long-range missile or space launch.

Analysis indicates increased activity at two key sites -- the Samundong missile research facility and the Sohae rocket-testing facility. Any launch could send stuttering talks on denuclearisation into disarray.

South Korea is "closely tracking and looking into all activity for possible scenarios including a missile launch" across the border, in close coordination with the US, said Kim Joon-rak, spokesman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Satellite images of Samundong taken on February 22 showed cars and trucks at the site, as well as rail cars and cranes at a yard, US news outlet NPR reported.

"When you put all that together, that's really what it looks like when the North Koreans are in the process of building a rocket," Jeffrey Lewis, a researcher at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, was quoted as saying.

Located on the outskirts of Pyongyang, the Samundong facility was built in 2012 to support development of long-range missiles and space-launch vehicles.

As well as developing the Hawsong-15 ICBM, which analysts agree is capable of reaching the whole US mainland, Samundong constructed the long-range rockets that were then transported and successfully launched from the Sohae satellite launch station in 2012 and 2016.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed last year to shutter the Sohae site at a summit with the South's President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang.

Satellite pictures in August suggested workers were dismantling an engine test stand at the facility.

But the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies suggested last week rebuilding was progressing quickly at the facility.

A moving structure that had been used to carry vehicles to a launch pad on rails has been restored, said respected research website 38 North project.

It added the work had started before last month's failed meeting on denuclearisation between Kim and US President Donald Trump.

John Bolton, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, said Sunday the US sees "exactly what they are doing" in regard to possible missile or rocket launch moves by the nuclear-armed state.

"We see it unblinkingly, and we don't have any illusions about what those are," he warned, adding his boss would be "pretty disappointed" if a nuclear-armed state conducted a new missile test.

North Korea has been banned by the UN security council from carrying out space launches, as some of its technology was similar to that used for intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs.

Since the collapse of the Hanoi summit, Trump has been cautious in his forecasts, continuing to suggest a deal remains possible.

Trump said Kim promised he would carry out no more missile or nuclear testing, adding, "I take him at his word."&nbsp;

South Korea's military said Monday it was closely monitoring North Korean facilities after a series of satellite images triggered an international alarm that Pyongyang might be preparing a long-range missile or space launch.

South Korea's military said Monday it was closely monitoring North Korean facilities after a series of satellite images triggered an international alarm that Pyongyang might be preparing a long-range missile or space launch. Analysis indicates increased activity at two key sites -- the Samundong missile research facility and the Sohae rocket-testing facility. Any launch could send stuttering talks on denuclearisation into disarray. South Korea is "closely tracking and looking into all activity for possible scenarios including a missile launch" across the border, in close coordination with the US, said Kim Joon-rak, spokesman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Satellite images of Samundong taken on February 22 showed cars and trucks at the site, as well as rail cars and cranes at a yard, US news outlet NPR reported. "When you put all that together, that's really what it looks like when the North Koreans are in the process of building a rocket," Jeffrey Lewis, a researcher at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, was quoted as saying. Located on the outskirts of Pyongyang, the Samundong facility was built in 2012 to support development of long-range missiles and space-launch vehicles. As well as developing the Hawsong-15 ICBM, which analysts agree is capable of reaching the whole US mainland, Samundong constructed the long-range rockets that were then transported and successfully launched from the Sohae satellite launch station in 2012 and 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed last year to shutter the Sohae site at a summit with the South's President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang. Satellite pictures in August suggested workers were dismantling an engine test stand at the facility. But the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies suggested last week rebuilding was progressing quickly at the facility. A moving structure that had been used to carry vehicles to a launch pad on rails has been restored, said respected research website 38 North project. It added the work had started before last month's failed meeting on denuclearisation between Kim and US President Donald Trump. John Bolton, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, said Sunday the US sees "exactly what they are doing" in regard to possible missile or rocket launch moves by the nuclear-armed state. "We see it unblinkingly, and we don't have any illusions about what those are," he warned, adding his boss would be "pretty disappointed" if a nuclear-armed state conducted a new missile test. North Korea has been banned by the UN security council from carrying out space launches, as some of its technology was similar to that used for intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs. Since the collapse of the Hanoi summit, Trump has been cautious in his forecasts, continuing to suggest a deal remains possible. Trump said Kim promised he would carry out no more missile or nuclear testing, adding, "I take him at his word."

South Korea is closely monitoring North Korea for 'missile launch': Military

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is open to a third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un but some time may have to go by before this takes place, Trump's national security adviser said on Sunday.

Speaking on ABC, John Bolton said the United States has no illusions about North Korea's capabilities, but Trump remains confident in his personal relationship with the North Korean leader.&nbsp;

Bolton's comments came after two US&nbsp;think tanks and Seoul's spy agency said last week that North Korea was rebuilding a rocket launch site at Sohae in the west of the country.&nbsp;

There have also been reports from South Korea's intelligence service of new activity at a factory at Sanumdong near Pyongyang that produced North Korea's first intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States.&nbsp;

Bolton declined to discuss those reports or say whether a new North Korean missile launch would scuttle engagement with the United States. He said, however, that it was a mistake to assume North Korea would "automatically" comply with its obligations.

"The president's confident in his personal relationship with Kim Jong Un. He's invested a lot of time in trying to develop that relationship," Bolton told ABC's "This Week."

"He said he's open to a third summit, none has been scheduled, and some time may have to go by. &nbsp;But he’s prepared to engage again because he does think that the prospects for North Korea, which he’s been trying to persuade Kim Jong Un to accept if they denuclearized, are really quite spectacular," Bolton said.

Trump told reporters Friday he would be disappointed if Pyongyang were to resume weapons testing and reiterated his belief in his good relationship with the North Korean leader, despite the recent collapse of their second summit in Hanoi.

North Korea has frozen nuclear and missile testing since 2017, and Trump has pointed to this as a positive outcome from nearly a year of high-level engagement with North Korea.

Bolton said he thought Kim has a "very clear idea" where Trump stands on missile tests. US&nbsp;intelligence is constantly watching North Korea, he said.

"We see exactly what they’re doing now. &nbsp;We see it unblinkingly, and we don't have any illusions about what their capabilities are," he said.

Bolton said he was unaware of any recent US&nbsp;contact with North Korea, but that he would be talking Monday with his South Korean counterpart, who may have been in touch with the North.

US President Donald Trump is open to a third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un but some time may have to go by before this takes place, Trump's national security adviser said on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump is open to a third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un but some time may have to go by before this takes place, Trump's national security adviser said on Sunday. Speaking on ABC, John Bolton said the United States has no illusions about North Korea's capabilities, but Trump remains confident in his personal relationship with the North Korean leader. Bolton's comments came after two US think tanks and Seoul's spy agency said last week that North Korea was rebuilding a rocket launch site at Sohae in the west of the country. There have also been reports from South Korea's intelligence service of new activity at a factory at Sanumdong near Pyongyang that produced North Korea's first intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States. Bolton declined to discuss those reports or say whether a new North Korean missile launch would scuttle engagement with the United States. He said, however, that it was a mistake to assume North Korea would "automatically" comply with its obligations. "The president's confident in his personal relationship with Kim Jong Un. He's invested a lot of time in trying to develop that relationship," Bolton told ABC's "This Week." "He said he's open to a third summit, none has been scheduled, and some time may have to go by. But he’s prepared to engage again because he does think that the prospects for North Korea, which he’s been trying to persuade Kim Jong Un to accept if they denuclearized, are really quite spectacular," Bolton said. Trump told reporters Friday he would be disappointed if Pyongyang were to resume weapons testing and reiterated his belief in his good relationship with the North Korean leader, despite the recent collapse of their second summit in Hanoi. North Korea has frozen nuclear and missile testing since 2017, and Trump has pointed to this as a positive outcome from nearly a year of high-level engagement with North Korea. Bolton said he thought Kim has a "very clear idea" where Trump stands on missile tests. US intelligence is constantly watching North Korea, he said. "We see exactly what they’re doing now. We see it unblinkingly, and we don't have any illusions about what their capabilities are," he said. Bolton said he was unaware of any recent US contact with North Korea, but that he would be talking Monday with his South Korean counterpart, who may have been in touch with the North.

Some time may pass before a third North Korea summit: Bolton

North Koreans go to the polls Sunday for an election in which there can be only one winner.

Leader Kim Jong Un's ruling Workers' Party has an iron grip on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the isolated, nuclear-armed country is officially known.

But every five years it holds an election for the rubber stamp legislature, known as the Supreme People's Assembly.

And in keeping with one of Pyongyang's most enduring slogans -- "Single-minded unity" -- there is only one approved name on each of the ballot papers.

Voters have the opportunity to cross it out before casting their ballot, but in practice that is unknown.

Turnout last time was 99.97 per cent, according to the official KCNA news agency –- only those who were abroad or "working in oceans" did not take part. And the vote was 100 per cent in favour of the named candidates.

"We regard all the people in our country as one family so we will unite with one mind and we will vote for the agreed candidate," Socialist Women's Union official Song Yang Ran, 57, told AFP ahead of this year's poll.

Ordinary North Koreans always express total support for the authorities when speaking to foreign media.

"Our system is the best," Song said when asked her opinion of elections that have several names on the ballot paper.

"We acknowledge no one but the Supreme Leader," she added, referring to Kim Jong Un.&nbsp;

"And we will hold the respected Marshal in high esteem forever."

Ritual exercise&nbsp; 
With a total absence of electoral competition, analysts say the vote is held largely as a political rite to enable the authorities to claim a mandate from the people.

It was the result of "established institutional inertia and a need to legitimise the government by simulating democratic procedure", said Andrei Lankov of Korea Risk Group.

Soviet-style Communist states had a long tradition of holding general elections, he said, even if the ruling party ignored its own rules about holding regular congresses –- something the North skipped for more than 30 years.

"North Korea is just emulating all other Communist states," he said.

"The early Communists sincerely believed that they were producing a democracy the world had never seen. So they needed elections and it became a very important part of self-legitimisation."

The last significant government of a major country to dispense with elections altogether was Nazi Germany, he pointed out.

The North is divided into constituencies for the vote –- there were 686 at the last election in 2014 when Kim stood in Mount Paektu, a dormant volcano on the border with China revered as the spiritual birthplace of the Korean people.&nbsp;

He received a 100 per cent turnout and 100 per cent in favour according to KCNA.

Some of the seats are allocated to two minor parties, the Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongdu Party, which has its roots in a 20th-century Korean religious movement.

They are both in a formal alliance with the ruling party and analysts and diplomats say they exist largely on paper, with only small central offices maintained for propaganda purposes.

Even so, participation in the poll, like other "obligatory rituals" in the North, does reinforce loyalty to the government and social unity, Lankov said, "because humans love symbolism".

In an article headlined "Superior Election System of DPRK", KCNA said the vote was an important occasion "displaying the solidity and invincibility of the socialist system in which the leader, the party and the masses form a harmonious whole".

North Koreans go to the polls Sunday for an election in which there can be only one winner. Leader Kim Jong Un's ruling Workers' Party has an iron grip on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the isolated, nuclear-armed country is officially known.

North Koreans go to the polls Sunday for an election in which there can be only one winner. Leader Kim Jong Un's ruling Workers' Party has an iron grip on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the isolated, nuclear-armed country is officially known. But every five years it holds an election for the rubber stamp legislature, known as the Supreme People's Assembly. And in keeping with one of Pyongyang's most enduring slogans -- "Single-minded unity" -- there is only one approved name on each of the ballot papers. Voters have the opportunity to cross it out before casting their ballot, but in practice that is unknown. Turnout last time was 99.97 per cent, according to the official KCNA news agency –- only those who were abroad or "working in oceans" did not take part. And the vote was 100 per cent in favour of the named candidates. "We regard all the people in our country as one family so we will unite with one mind and we will vote for the agreed candidate," Socialist Women's Union official Song Yang Ran, 57, told AFP ahead of this year's poll. Ordinary North Koreans always express total support for the authorities when speaking to foreign media. "Our system is the best," Song said when asked her opinion of elections that have several names on the ballot paper. "We acknowledge no one but the Supreme Leader," she added, referring to Kim Jong Un. "And we will hold the respected Marshal in high esteem forever." Ritual exercise With a total absence of electoral competition, analysts say the vote is held largely as a political rite to enable the authorities to claim a mandate from the people. It was the result of "established institutional inertia and a need to legitimise the government by simulating democratic procedure", said Andrei Lankov of Korea Risk Group. Soviet-style Communist states had a long tradition of holding general elections, he said, even if the ruling party ignored its own rules about holding regular congresses –- something the North skipped for more than 30 years. "North Korea is just emulating all other Communist states," he said. "The early Communists sincerely believed that they were producing a democracy the world had never seen. So they needed elections and it became a very important part of self-legitimisation." The last significant government of a major country to dispense with elections altogether was Nazi Germany, he pointed out. The North is divided into constituencies for the vote –- there were 686 at the last election in 2014 when Kim stood in Mount Paektu, a dormant volcano on the border with China revered as the spiritual birthplace of the Korean people. He received a 100 per cent turnout and 100 per cent in favour according to KCNA. Some of the seats are allocated to two minor parties, the Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongdu Party, which has its roots in a 20th-century Korean religious movement. They are both in a formal alliance with the ruling party and analysts and diplomats say they exist largely on paper, with only small central offices maintained for propaganda purposes. Even so, participation in the poll, like other "obligatory rituals" in the North, does reinforce loyalty to the government and social unity, Lankov said, "because humans love symbolism". In an article headlined "Superior Election System of DPRK", KCNA said the vote was an important occasion "displaying the solidity and invincibility of the socialist system in which the leader, the party and the masses form a harmonious whole".

Democracy, DPRK style: North Korea holds election

The week that was, in pictures

North Korea <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/satellites-detect-activity-at-north-korean-missile-base-201568">may be preparing for a missile or space launch</a>, US news outlet NPR has reported, based on satellite image analysis of a key facility near Pyongyang.

NPR said the images of Sanumdong, one of the facilities Pyongyang has used to produce inter-continental ballistic missiles and space rockets, were taken days before US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Hanoi for their high-stakes summit, which ended in failure.

The photos by the firm DigitalGlobe show the presence of cars and trucks at the site on February 22, said NPR -- which has exclusive access to the imagery.&nbsp;

It added that rail cars and cranes can also be seen at a yard.

"When you put all that together, that's really what it looks like when the North Koreans are in the process of building a rocket," Jeffrey Lewis, a researcher at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, was quoted as saying by NPR on Friday.

The Sanumdong analysis comes days after the specialised website 38 North and the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Pyongyang may have resumed operations at its long-range rocket launch site at Sohae, based on their study of satellite imagery from March 6.

The development is likely to further compound Washington's frustration over the lack of progress in its bid to get the North to give up its atomic arsenal, especially after the February 27-28 summit between Trump and Kim collapsed without so much as a joint statement -- let alone an agreement on nuclear disarmament.

According to senior US officials, in the week leading up to the Hanoi summit, the North Koreans had demanded the lifting of effectively all UN Security Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016.

In return, Pyongyang offered only to close part of the Yongbyon complex, a sprawling site covering multiple facilities. The North is also believed to have other uranium enrichment plants.

But North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho disputed the US account, saying Pyongyang offered to dismantle all "nuclear production facilities in the Yongbyon area" in exchange for partial sanctions relief.

Trump said Friday that his relationship with Kim "remains good", despite the setback in Hanoi.

US officials have said Washington believes the "final, fully verified denuclearisation" of North Korea is still possible by the end of Trump's first term.

Kim released his first public message since the Hanoi summit on Saturday earlier this week, instructing propaganda officials to conduct "positive information" activities to spur scientific and technological development, according to a Saturday report by North Korean state media outlet KCNA.

North Korea may be preparing for a missile or space launch, US news outlet NPR has reported, based on satellite image analysis of a key facility near Pyongyang. NPR said the images of Sanumdong, one of the facilities Pyongyang has used to produce inter-continental ballistic missiles and space rockets, were taken days before US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Hanoi for their high-stakes summit, which ended in failure.

North Korea may be preparing for a missile or space launch, US news outlet NPR has reported, based on satellite image analysis of a key facility near Pyongyang. NPR said the images of Sanumdong, one of the facilities Pyongyang has used to produce inter-continental ballistic missiles and space rockets, were taken days before US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Hanoi for their high-stakes summit, which ended in failure. The photos by the firm DigitalGlobe show the presence of cars and trucks at the site on February 22, said NPR -- which has exclusive access to the imagery. It added that rail cars and cranes can also be seen at a yard. "When you put all that together, that's really what it looks like when the North Koreans are in the process of building a rocket," Jeffrey Lewis, a researcher at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, was quoted as saying by NPR on Friday. The Sanumdong analysis comes days after the specialised website 38 North and the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Pyongyang may have resumed operations at its long-range rocket launch site at Sohae, based on their study of satellite imagery from March 6. The development is likely to further compound Washington's frustration over the lack of progress in its bid to get the North to give up its atomic arsenal, especially after the February 27-28 summit between Trump and Kim collapsed without so much as a joint statement -- let alone an agreement on nuclear disarmament. According to senior US officials, in the week leading up to the Hanoi summit, the North Koreans had demanded the lifting of effectively all UN Security Council economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang since March 2016. In return, Pyongyang offered only to close part of the Yongbyon complex, a sprawling site covering multiple facilities. The North is also believed to have other uranium enrichment plants. But North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho disputed the US account, saying Pyongyang offered to dismantle all "nuclear production facilities in the Yongbyon area" in exchange for partial sanctions relief. Trump said Friday that his relationship with Kim "remains good", despite the setback in Hanoi. US officials have said Washington believes the "final, fully verified denuclearisation" of North Korea is still possible by the end of Trump's first term. Kim released his first public message since the Hanoi summit on Saturday earlier this week, instructing propaganda officials to conduct "positive information" activities to spur scientific and technological development, according to a Saturday report by North Korean state media outlet KCNA.

North Korea may be preparing missile or space launch: NPR

Donald Trump's hitherto failed ‘maximum pressure’ approach to Iran, as well as for that matter North Korea, begs the question what the US president’s true objectives are and what options he is left with should the policy ultimately fail.&nbsp;

In the case of North Korea, it remains to be seen whether&nbsp;the country’s reported rebuilding of a rocket launch site&nbsp;after the US president last month walked away from his summit in Hanoi with Kim-Jong-un constitutes a negotiating tactic or a breakdown. The site was partially dismantled as a goodwill gesture after the two men first met in Singapore last year.&nbsp;

A breakdown coupled with&nbsp;even harsher sanctions&nbsp;that similarly may not do the job risks leaving Trump with few good options beyond some kind of military operation.&nbsp;

Trump has so far credibly conveyed his intention of wanting to fully denuclearise North Korea rather than ultimately change its regime, a further indication of the apparent comfort he finds in dealing with at least some autocratic and authoritarian leaders.&nbsp;

The picture with regard to North Korea and Iran is both similar and different.&nbsp;

Iranian resilience backed by key players in the international community determined to salvage the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program could blunt the impact of harsh US sanctions, again leaving the United States with few good options beyond either backing away from its maximalist approach or weighing overt or covert military action.&nbsp;

Trump’s intentions regarding Iran, in contrast to North Korea, are far less clear.&nbsp;Increasingly strident language&nbsp;by the president’s hard-line national security advisor, John Bolton, as well as his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, coupled with the specific&nbsp;changes of Iranian policies that the US is demanding,&nbsp;suggest that regime change rather than reform may be the president’s true objective. It is hard to see how Iran could comply with the US demands without a change of regime.&nbsp;

For now, Iran’s strategy appears to be circumventing sanctions in every way it can, ensuring continued support by Europe, China and Russia, and waiting it out to see whether Trump gets a second term in the 2020 US elections in the hope that a Democratic president comes to office who would negotiate a return of the United States to the nuclear accord.

“A pressure campaign will only be effective if enough time is dedicated to it. In other words,&nbsp;there are no quick and easy victories, as the North Korean case demonstrates. And attempts to get them will only push the goalposts further away,” said political scientist Ariane M Tabatabai.

In a twist of irony, carrot-and-stick-backed efforts by international regulators to get Pakistan and Iran to significantly upgrade their legal abilities to counter political violence potentially are proving to be more effective than maximum pressure.&nbsp;

Concern that Pakistan could be blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international anti-money laundering and terrorism finance watchdog, compounded by mounting tension with India,&nbsp;prompted Pakistan in recent days to crack down on long tolerated militant groups.

Blacklisting potentially would have a debilitating impact on Pakistan’s crisis-ridden economy. It would restrict the ability of multilateral organisations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to aid or lend to Pakistan.&nbsp;

The fact that Iran faces a similar dilemma has sparked intense debate in the Islamic republic about how to deal with FATF demands that it join the watchdog and significantly upgrade its legal anti-money laundering and terrorism finance infrastructure to evade being blacklisted.&nbsp;

Iran’s parliament has so far passed two of four bills required for membership&nbsp;and together with the Expediency and Discernment Council is debating Iranian accession to the Combating the Financing of Terrorism Convention (CFT) and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime or Palermo Convention.&nbsp;

The FATF demands have put Iran between a rock and a hard place.

Iranian ratification of those conventions coupled with FATF membership holds out the promise of more effectively and more quickly than US maximum pressure curtailing Iran’s ability to fund regional proxies.&nbsp;

Failure to comply could significantly increase the pain of US sanctions by prompting those banks and financial institutions still willing to do business with Iran to rethink their positions.&nbsp;

It would also likely restrict the ability of supporters of the nuclear agreement to help Iran soften the impact of the sanctions.&nbsp;

"If you want us&nbsp;to succeed in the talks with Europe, at least the four proposed bills must be ratified," said a member of the Iranian parliament, Abulfazle Mousavi.&nbsp;

“By joining,&nbsp;Iranian banks will be under what will be unprecedented international scrutiny. This will make it more difficult, although not impossible, for Iran to transfer money to terror organisations… such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Additionally, Iranian membership in the FATF would weaken the financial strength of the Iranian hard-liners, who have always called for a more aggressive foreign policy in the region,” said Iran scholar Meir Javedanfar.&nbsp;

That is what has fuelled opposition in Iran to acceptance of FATF’s requirements. Hardliners have warned that FATF would effectively impair Iran’s ability to pursue a defense strategy focused on fighting the country’s foreign policy and military battles far beyond its borders and would give US sanctions more bite.&nbsp;

"Joining these conventions will lead to interference with Iran's internal affairs, including financial and economic issues,” said Abolfazl Hasanbeygi, a member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.

Mr. Hasanbeygi warned that FATF would be the vehicle that the country’s detractors would use to gain access to the workings of Iran's banking and economic system and its flows of funds.

As a result, Iran is at a crossroads more because of the application of a rules-based international and multilateral system than the coercion of punitive sanctions imposed by a world power. In reality, Iran is emerging as a litmus test of the effectiveness of varying forms of global governance.

If Iran “does not comply with the FATF regulations, the whole Iranian banking system could become thoroughly isolated&nbsp;from the global financial system. This means that it would be almost impossible to transfer the country's oil revenue internationally and even into its national economy,” said political analyst&nbsp;Shahir Shahidsaless.

“And if it does comply, it will face complications such as the creation of an FIU, becoming exposed to sanctions as a result of its chaotic banking system, greater difficulty bypassing US sanctions and, finally, risk getting trapped in allegations of financing terrorism,” he added referring to FATF’s insistence that members create a financial intelligence unit that monitors and reports on the funding of political violence.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Donald Trump's hitherto failed ‘maximum pressure’ approach to Iran, as well as for that matter North Korea, begs the question what the US president’s true objectives are and what options he is left with should the policy ultimately fail.

Donald Trump's hitherto failed ‘maximum pressure’ approach to Iran, as well as for that matter North Korea, begs the question what the US president’s true objectives are and what options he is left with should the policy ultimately fail. In the case of North Korea, it remains to be seen whether the country’s reported rebuilding of a rocket launch site after the US president last month walked away from his summit in Hanoi with Kim-Jong-un constitutes a negotiating tactic or a breakdown. The site was partially dismantled as a goodwill gesture after the two men first met in Singapore last year. A breakdown coupled with even harsher sanctions that similarly may not do the job risks leaving Trump with few good options beyond some kind of military operation. Trump has so far credibly conveyed his intention of wanting to fully denuclearise North Korea rather than ultimately change its regime, a further indication of the apparent comfort he finds in dealing with at least some autocratic and authoritarian leaders. The picture with regard to North Korea and Iran is both similar and different. Iranian resilience backed by key players in the international community determined to salvage the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program could blunt the impact of harsh US sanctions, again leaving the United States with few good options beyond either backing away from its maximalist approach or weighing overt or covert military action. Trump’s intentions regarding Iran, in contrast to North Korea, are far less clear. Increasingly strident language by the president’s hard-line national security advisor, John Bolton, as well as his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, coupled with the specific changes of Iranian policies that the US is demanding, suggest that regime change rather than reform may be the president’s true objective. It is hard to see how Iran could comply with the US demands without a change of regime. For now, Iran’s strategy appears to be circumventing sanctions in every way it can, ensuring continued support by Europe, China and Russia, and waiting it out to see whether Trump gets a second term in the 2020 US elections in the hope that a Democratic president comes to office who would negotiate a return of the United States to the nuclear accord. “A pressure campaign will only be effective if enough time is dedicated to it. In other words, there are no quick and easy victories, as the North Korean case demonstrates. And attempts to get them will only push the goalposts further away,” said political scientist Ariane M Tabatabai. In a twist of irony, carrot-and-stick-backed efforts by international regulators to get Pakistan and Iran to significantly upgrade their legal abilities to counter political violence potentially are proving to be more effective than maximum pressure. Concern that Pakistan could be blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international anti-money laundering and terrorism finance watchdog, compounded by mounting tension with India, prompted Pakistan in recent days to crack down on long tolerated militant groups. Blacklisting potentially would have a debilitating impact on Pakistan’s crisis-ridden economy. It would restrict the ability of multilateral organisations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to aid or lend to Pakistan. The fact that Iran faces a similar dilemma has sparked intense debate in the Islamic republic about how to deal with FATF demands that it join the watchdog and significantly upgrade its legal anti-money laundering and terrorism finance infrastructure to evade being blacklisted. Iran’s parliament has so far passed two of four bills required for membership and together with the Expediency and Discernment Council is debating Iranian accession to the Combating the Financing of Terrorism Convention (CFT) and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime or Palermo Convention. The FATF demands have put Iran between a rock and a hard place. Iranian ratification of those conventions coupled with FATF membership holds out the promise of more effectively and more quickly than US maximum pressure curtailing Iran’s ability to fund regional proxies. Failure to comply could significantly increase the pain of US sanctions by prompting those banks and financial institutions still willing to do business with Iran to rethink their positions. It would also likely restrict the ability of supporters of the nuclear agreement to help Iran soften the impact of the sanctions. "If you want us to succeed in the talks with Europe, at least the four proposed bills must be ratified," said a member of the Iranian parliament, Abulfazle Mousavi. “By joining, Iranian banks will be under what will be unprecedented international scrutiny. This will make it more difficult, although not impossible, for Iran to transfer money to terror organisations… such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Additionally, Iranian membership in the FATF would weaken the financial strength of the Iranian hard-liners, who have always called for a more aggressive foreign policy in the region,” said Iran scholar Meir Javedanfar. That is what has fuelled opposition in Iran to acceptance of FATF’s requirements. Hardliners have warned that FATF would effectively impair Iran’s ability to pursue a defense strategy focused on fighting the country’s foreign policy and military battles far beyond its borders and would give US sanctions more bite. "Joining these conventions will lead to interference with Iran's internal affairs, including financial and economic issues,” said Abolfazl Hasanbeygi, a member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission. Mr. Hasanbeygi warned that FATF would be the vehicle that the country’s detractors would use to gain access to the workings of Iran's banking and economic system and its flows of funds. As a result, Iran is at a crossroads more because of the application of a rules-based international and multilateral system than the coercion of punitive sanctions imposed by a world power. In reality, Iran is emerging as a litmus test of the effectiveness of varying forms of global governance. If Iran “does not comply with the FATF regulations, the whole Iranian banking system could become thoroughly isolated from the global financial system. This means that it would be almost impossible to transfer the country's oil revenue internationally and even into its national economy,” said political analyst Shahir Shahidsaless. “And if it does comply, it will face complications such as the creation of an FIU, becoming exposed to sanctions as a result of its chaotic banking system, greater difficulty bypassing US sanctions and, finally, risk getting trapped in allegations of financing terrorism,” he added referring to FATF’s insistence that members create a financial intelligence unit that monitors and reports on the funding of political violence. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Iran and North Korea highlight pitfalls of Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ strategy

North Korea releases documentary on Kim Jong Un

Timeline of North Korea's missile programme

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is open to more talks with North Korea over denuclearisation, his national security adviser said on Thursday, despite <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/will-be-very-very-disappointed-says-trump-over-reports-of-north-korea-rebuilding-rocket-site-201648">reports it is reactivating parts of its missile programme</a>.

New activity has been detected at a factory that produced North Korea's first intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the United States, South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo and Donga Ilbo newspapers reported, citing lawmakers briefed by the National Intelligence Service.

This week, two US&nbsp;think-tanks and Seoul's spy agency said North Korea was rebuilding its Sohae rocket launch site, prompting Trump to say he would be "very, very disappointed" in North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if it were true. The think tanks said on Thursday that they believed the launch site was operational again.

Asked on Thursday if he was disappointed about recent North Korean activity, Trump told reporters,&nbsp;"It's disappointing," while adding without elaborating,&nbsp;"We'll see. We'll let you know in about a year."

The reports of North Korean activity raise more questions about the future of the dialogue Trump has pursued with Kim after a second summit between them broke down in Vietnam last week.

White House National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has argued for a tough approach to North Korea, said Trump was still open to more talks with the country.

"The president's obviously open to talking again. We'll see when that might be scheduled or how it might work out," he told Fox News, adding it was too soon to make a determination on the reports of the North Korean activity.

"We're going to study the situation carefully. As the president said, it would be very, very disappointing if they were taking this direction."

The Vietnam summit on February&nbsp;27-28 collapsed over differences about how far North Korea was willing to limit its nuclear program and the degree of US&nbsp;willingness to ease economic sanctions.

North Korea's state media, which had focused its reporting on the "constructive" talks between the leaders, reported for the first time on Friday that the summit ended with no agreement.&nbsp;

The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper accused Japan of trying to "disturb" North Korea's relations with the United States and said Japan had "applauded" the breakdown of the summit while the rest of the world regretted it.&nbsp;

Trump, eager for a big foreign policy win on North Korea, which has eluded his predecessors for decades, has repeatedly stressed his good relationship with Kim. He went as far late last year as saying they "fell in love," but the bonhomie has failed to bridge the wide gap between the two sides.

No comment yet

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he was hopeful he would send a delegation to North Korea for more talks in the next couple of weeks, but that he had received "no commitment yet."

A senior State Department official told reporters on Thursday that Washington was keen to resume talks as soon as possible, but North Korea's negotiators needed to be given more latitude than they were ahead of the summit.

He said no one in the US&nbsp;administration advocated the incremental approach that North Korea has been seeking and the condition for its integration into the global economy, a transformed relationship with the United States and a permanent peace regime, was complete denuclearisation.

"Fundamentally, where we really need to see the progress, and we need to see it soon, is on meaningful and verifiable steps on denuclearisation. That's our goal and that's how we see these negotiations picking up momentum."

The official, who did not want to be identified, said the US&nbsp;side still saw North Korea's complete denuclearisation as achievable within Trump's current term, which ends in January 2021.

While the official said he would "not necessarily share the conclusion" that the Sohae site was operational again, any use of it would be seen as "backsliding" on commitments to Trump.

"We are watching in real-time developments at Sohae and we will definitely be seeking clarification on the purposes of that," he said.

Missile factory

South Korean spy chief Suh Hoon told lawmakers in Seoul that cargo vehicles were spotted moving around a North Korean ICBM factory at Sanumdong recently, the JoongAng Ilbo reported.

The paper also quoted Suh as saying North Korea had continued to run its uranium enrichment facility at the main Yongbyon nuclear complex after Trump and Kim's first summit in Singapore last June.

The Sanumdong factory produced the Hwasong-15 ICBM, which can fly more than 13,000 km (8,080 miles). After a test flight in 2017, North Korea declared the completion of its "state nuclear force" before pursuing talks with South Korea and the United States last year.

Separately, Washington's 38 North and Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tanks reported on Thursday that the North's Sohae site, which Kim pledged in Singapore to dismantle, appeared to be operational again after rebuilding work that began days before the Hanoi summit.

"The rebuilding activities at Sohae demonstrate how quickly North Korea can easily render reversible any steps taken towards scrapping its Weapons of Mass Destruction program with little hesitation," CSIS said.

It called the action "an affront" to Trump's diplomatic strategy that showed North Korean pique at his refusal to lift sanctions.

Sanctions warning

Some analysts see the work as aimed at pressing Washington to agree to a deal, rather than as a definite move to resume tests.

A US&nbsp;government source, who did not want to be identified, said North Korea's plan in rebuilding the site could have been to offer a demonstration of good faith by conspicuously stopping again if a summit pact was struck, while furnishing a sign of defiance or resolve if the meeting failed.

On Wednesday, Bolton warned of new sanctions if North Korea did not scrap its weapons program.&nbsp;

Despite his sanctions talk, there have been signs across Asia that the US&nbsp;"maximum pressure" sanctions campaign against North Korea has sprung leaks.

In a new breach, three South Korean companies were found to have brought in more than 13,000 tons of North Korean coal, worth 2.1 billion won ($2 million) since 2017, South Korea said.

The Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, referring on Friday to international tension over North Korea, said a "resolution could not be reached overnight".&nbsp;

"All parties should have reasonable expectations on this," Wang told a news briefing.&nbsp;

China is North Korea's most important economic and diplomatic backer, and has suggested easing UN&nbsp;sanctions on North Korea as a way to reward it for its improved behavior.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump is open to more talks with North Korea over denuclearisation, his national security adviser said on Thursday, despite reports it is reactivating parts of its missile programme.

US President Donald Trump is open to more talks with North Korea over denuclearisation, his national security adviser said on Thursday, despite reports it is reactivating parts of its missile programme. New activity has been detected at a factory that produced North Korea's first intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the United States, South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo and Donga Ilbo newspapers reported, citing lawmakers briefed by the National Intelligence Service. This week, two US think-tanks and Seoul's spy agency said North Korea was rebuilding its Sohae rocket launch site, prompting Trump to say he would be "very, very disappointed" in North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if it were true. The think tanks said on Thursday that they believed the launch site was operational again. Asked on Thursday if he was disappointed about recent North Korean activity, Trump told reporters, "It's disappointing," while adding without elaborating, "We'll see. We'll let you know in about a year." The reports of North Korean activity raise more questions about the future of the dialogue Trump has pursued with Kim after a second summit between them broke down in Vietnam last week. White House National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has argued for a tough approach to North Korea, said Trump was still open to more talks with the country. "The president's obviously open to talking again. We'll see when that might be scheduled or how it might work out," he told Fox News, adding it was too soon to make a determination on the reports of the North Korean activity. "We're going to study the situation carefully. As the president said, it would be very, very disappointing if they were taking this direction." The Vietnam summit on February 27-28 collapsed over differences about how far North Korea was willing to limit its nuclear program and the degree of US willingness to ease economic sanctions. North Korea's state media, which had focused its reporting on the "constructive" talks between the leaders, reported for the first time on Friday that the summit ended with no agreement. The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper accused Japan of trying to "disturb" North Korea's relations with the United States and said Japan had "applauded" the breakdown of the summit while the rest of the world regretted it. Trump, eager for a big foreign policy win on North Korea, which has eluded his predecessors for decades, has repeatedly stressed his good relationship with Kim. He went as far late last year as saying they "fell in love," but the bonhomie has failed to bridge the wide gap between the two sides. No comment yet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he was hopeful he would send a delegation to North Korea for more talks in the next couple of weeks, but that he had received "no commitment yet." A senior State Department official told reporters on Thursday that Washington was keen to resume talks as soon as possible, but North Korea's negotiators needed to be given more latitude than they were ahead of the summit. He said no one in the US administration advocated the incremental approach that North Korea has been seeking and the condition for its integration into the global economy, a transformed relationship with the United States and a permanent peace regime, was complete denuclearisation. "Fundamentally, where we really need to see the progress, and we need to see it soon, is on meaningful and verifiable steps on denuclearisation. That's our goal and that's how we see these negotiations picking up momentum." The official, who did not want to be identified, said the US side still saw North Korea's complete denuclearisation as achievable within Trump's current term, which ends in January 2021. While the official said he would "not necessarily share the conclusion" that the Sohae site was operational again, any use of it would be seen as "backsliding" on commitments to Trump. "We are watching in real-time developments at Sohae and we will definitely be seeking clarification on the purposes of that," he said. Missile factory South Korean spy chief Suh Hoon told lawmakers in Seoul that cargo vehicles were spotted moving around a North Korean ICBM factory at Sanumdong recently, the JoongAng Ilbo reported. The paper also quoted Suh as saying North Korea had continued to run its uranium enrichment facility at the main Yongbyon nuclear complex after Trump and Kim's first summit in Singapore last June. The Sanumdong factory produced the Hwasong-15 ICBM, which can fly more than 13,000 km (8,080 miles). After a test flight in 2017, North Korea declared the completion of its "state nuclear force" before pursuing talks with South Korea and the United States last year. Separately, Washington's 38 North and Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tanks reported on Thursday that the North's Sohae site, which Kim pledged in Singapore to dismantle, appeared to be operational again after rebuilding work that began days before the Hanoi summit. "The rebuilding activities at Sohae demonstrate how quickly North Korea can easily render reversible any steps taken towards scrapping its Weapons of Mass Destruction program with little hesitation," CSIS said. It called the action "an affront" to Trump's diplomatic strategy that showed North Korean pique at his refusal to lift sanctions. Sanctions warning Some analysts see the work as aimed at pressing Washington to agree to a deal, rather than as a definite move to resume tests. A US government source, who did not want to be identified, said North Korea's plan in rebuilding the site could have been to offer a demonstration of good faith by conspicuously stopping again if a summit pact was struck, while furnishing a sign of defiance or resolve if the meeting failed. On Wednesday, Bolton warned of new sanctions if North Korea did not scrap its weapons program. Despite his sanctions talk, there have been signs across Asia that the US "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign against North Korea has sprung leaks. In a new breach, three South Korean companies were found to have brought in more than 13,000 tons of North Korean coal, worth 2.1 billion won ($2 million) since 2017, South Korea said. The Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, referring on Friday to international tension over North Korea, said a "resolution could not be reached overnight". "All parties should have reasonable expectations on this," Wang told a news briefing. China is North Korea's most important economic and diplomatic backer, and has suggested easing UN sanctions on North Korea as a way to reward it for its improved behavior.

Trump says open to talks with North Korea despite missile programme activity

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he'd be "very, very disappointed" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if reports that work is underway to rebuild a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-rebuilding-main-missile-site-launch-it-promised-trump-to-dismantle-report-201440">long-range rocket site</a> are confirmed.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said "it's too early to see" if the information about work at the North Korean site is true. Warning he'd be disappointed, he added: "I don't think I will be, but we'll see what happens." Trump and Kim met last week in Vietnam to negotiate on getting rid of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, but the summit broke up early with no progress.

Researchers say that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-north-korea-envoy-in-talks-after-pyongyang-rocket-site-work-revealed-201633">rebuilding of the facility </a>in question has been underway since the summit and may have started before the Vietnam meeting.

"This facility had been dormant since August 2018, indicating the current activity is deliberate and purposeful," said researchers at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Researchers said that the activity may be intended to "demonstrate resolve in the face of US rejection" of the North's request for an easing of sanctions in return for some dismantlement of nuclear weapons infrastructure.

Kim had agreed to shutter the Sohae missile-testing site at a summit with the South's President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang, as part of confidence-building measures, and satellite pictures in August had suggested workers were already dismantling an engine test stand at the facility.

But CSIS said building activity is now "evident" at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, from where Pyongyang launched satellites in 2012 and 2016.

North Korea was later banned by the UN security council from carrying out the space launches, as some of its technology was similar to that used for intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs.

The respected Washington-based 38 North project, another independent research website specialising in North Korea, also reported building work at the Sohae facility, based on commercial satellite imagery.

According to 38 North, the efforts to rebuild structures at the Sohae facility started sometime between February 16 and March 2 this year.

The pictures show a moving structure that had been used to carry launch vehicles to a launch pad on rails has been restored, it said.

"Two support cranes are observed at the building, the walls have been erected and a new roof added. At the engine test stand, it appears that the engine support structure is being reassembled," the 38 North reported.

In a briefing to parliamentarians this week, Seoul's spy agency said it had detected signs of work at the site.

Joel Wit, the director of the 38 North project, cautioned that the evidence was not necessarily "consistent with preparations for an ICBM test." "Aside from the fact that (North Korea) has never tested an ICBM from Sohae - it's a space vehicle launch site - preparation for any launch would require a wide range of activities not observed in the imagery," Wit said.

However, a rocket engine test could be performed there and that would send "a really strong signal" to Washington, Wit said.

"A lot depends on how the US reacts to what's going on," Wit said. "The danger here is that we could start spiraling downward as each side takes steps and undermine the process that's been in place since last spring."

Impoverished and isolated North Korea conducted its first successful nuclear test in 2006 followed by a string of increasingly successful ICBM launches. 
In 2017, it claimed it had become capable of fitting a viable nuclear weapon on an ICBM that could reach as far as the United States' eastern seaboard.

In response, the UN Security Council later banned the North's main exports -- coal and other mineral resources, fisheries and textile products -- to cut off its access to hard currency.

At their groundbreaking first summit in Singapore last year, Kim and Trump produced a vague statement on the "denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." There were high expectations for Kim and Trump's second meeting in Hanoi, but no agreement was reached. Despite the stalemate, both sides said they were open to further talks. 
John Bolton, the US national security adviser, however said on Tuesday that the US would look at "ramping those sanctions up" if Pyongyang did not give up its nuclear weapons program.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he'd be "very, very disappointed" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if reports that work is underway to rebuild a long-range rocket site are confirmed.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he'd be "very, very disappointed" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if reports that work is underway to rebuild a long-range rocket site are confirmed. Speaking to reporters, Trump said "it's too early to see" if the information about work at the North Korean site is true. Warning he'd be disappointed, he added: "I don't think I will be, but we'll see what happens." Trump and Kim met last week in Vietnam to negotiate on getting rid of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, but the summit broke up early with no progress. Researchers say that rebuilding of the facility in question has been underway since the summit and may have started before the Vietnam meeting. "This facility had been dormant since August 2018, indicating the current activity is deliberate and purposeful," said researchers at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Researchers said that the activity may be intended to "demonstrate resolve in the face of US rejection" of the North's request for an easing of sanctions in return for some dismantlement of nuclear weapons infrastructure. Kim had agreed to shutter the Sohae missile-testing site at a summit with the South's President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang, as part of confidence-building measures, and satellite pictures in August had suggested workers were already dismantling an engine test stand at the facility. But CSIS said building activity is now "evident" at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, from where Pyongyang launched satellites in 2012 and 2016. North Korea was later banned by the UN security council from carrying out the space launches, as some of its technology was similar to that used for intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs. The respected Washington-based 38 North project, another independent research website specialising in North Korea, also reported building work at the Sohae facility, based on commercial satellite imagery. According to 38 North, the efforts to rebuild structures at the Sohae facility started sometime between February 16 and March 2 this year. The pictures show a moving structure that had been used to carry launch vehicles to a launch pad on rails has been restored, it said. "Two support cranes are observed at the building, the walls have been erected and a new roof added. At the engine test stand, it appears that the engine support structure is being reassembled," the 38 North reported. In a briefing to parliamentarians this week, Seoul's spy agency said it had detected signs of work at the site. Joel Wit, the director of the 38 North project, cautioned that the evidence was not necessarily "consistent with preparations for an ICBM test." "Aside from the fact that (North Korea) has never tested an ICBM from Sohae - it's a space vehicle launch site - preparation for any launch would require a wide range of activities not observed in the imagery," Wit said. However, a rocket engine test could be performed there and that would send "a really strong signal" to Washington, Wit said. "A lot depends on how the US reacts to what's going on," Wit said. "The danger here is that we could start spiraling downward as each side takes steps and undermine the process that's been in place since last spring." Impoverished and isolated North Korea conducted its first successful nuclear test in 2006 followed by a string of increasingly successful ICBM launches. In 2017, it claimed it had become capable of fitting a viable nuclear weapon on an ICBM that could reach as far as the United States' eastern seaboard. In response, the UN Security Council later banned the North's main exports -- coal and other mineral resources, fisheries and textile products -- to cut off its access to hard currency. At their groundbreaking first summit in Singapore last year, Kim and Trump produced a vague statement on the "denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." There were high expectations for Kim and Trump's second meeting in Hanoi, but no agreement was reached. Despite the stalemate, both sides said they were open to further talks. John Bolton, the US national security adviser, however said on Tuesday that the US would look at "ramping those sanctions up" if Pyongyang did not give up its nuclear weapons program.

Will be very, very disappointed, says Trump over reports of North Korea rebuilding rocket site

North Korea's food production last year fell to its lowest level in more than a decade as natural disasters hit the country already under crippling international sanctions over its weapons programme, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

North Korea has for decades been grappling with chronic food shortages in the face of a dysfunctional state ration system and international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and missile programmes.

Last year, Pyongyang called for an "all-out battle" against "an unprecedented heat wave" and its mission to the United Nations in New York last month warned of a food crisis.

A prolonged heat wave, along with typhoon and floods has taken a toll on food harvest, which posted a 9 per cent drop from 2017 to the lowest level in more than a decade, the United Nations said.

Margareta Wahlstrom, president of Swedish Red Cross, told Reuters after her visit to the North late last year that maze yields fell more than 30 per cent from average levels in some areas and rice prices would likely rise this year, aggravating food security.

That has resulted in a "significant food gap," leaving some 3.8 million, or 6.6 per cent of its 25 million population, in urgent need of humanitarian assistance worth $120 million, according to Tapan Mishra, the U.N. Resident Coordinator in the North.

The United Nations has been struggling to rally donors behind its North Korea programmes and said its 2018 "Needs and Priorities Plan" for the isolated nation was only funded at 24 per cent.

Mishra cited international sanctions as a major challenge which has caused delays in aid deliveries and forced other relief groups to scale back their operations in the North.

"Without adequate funding this year, the only option left for some agencies will be to close projects that serve as a lifeline for millions of people," Mishra said in a statement.

Sanctions

UN sanctions technically exempt humanitarian activities. But humanitarian aid for the North nearly ground to a halt last year due to strict interpretations of bans on banking and shipping transactions with Pyongyang, as well as a travel ban for US citizens, according to a dozen officials at UN and US civilian organisations.

Last August, the United Nations adopted a US proposal to streamline approval for aid shipments. After meeting with relief groups in January, the US State Department promised to facilitate their North Korea operations in a move partly aimed at expediting nuclear talks with Pyongyang.

But there is no clear sign of improvement yet, with the complex, one-off approval procedures continuing to slow deliveries of basic food packages, medical equipment and other supplies, according to Mishra and at least four other organisations.

"We would like to see stronger, codified humanitarian protections has written into existing regulations rather than each aid delivery and humanitarian delegation being considered on a case-by-case basis," said Daniel Jasper of the American Friends Service Committee, which has run farming projects in North Korea for 20 years.

The Philadelphia-based group, which joined the meeting with US officials, pointed to the current rules limiting shipments to twice a year as "not practical" especially for health programmes requires round-the-clock support.

"While unintended consequences of sanctions persist, these delays have a real and tangible impact on the aid that we are able to provide to people who desperately need it," Mishra said.

North Korea's food production last year fell to its lowest level in more than a decade as natural disasters hit the country already under crippling international sanctions over its weapons programme, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

North Korea's food production last year fell to its lowest level in more than a decade as natural disasters hit the country already under crippling international sanctions over its weapons programme, the United Nations said on Wednesday. North Korea has for decades been grappling with chronic food shortages in the face of a dysfunctional state ration system and international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and missile programmes. Last year, Pyongyang called for an "all-out battle" against "an unprecedented heat wave" and its mission to the United Nations in New York last month warned of a food crisis. A prolonged heat wave, along with typhoon and floods has taken a toll on food harvest, which posted a 9 per cent drop from 2017 to the lowest level in more than a decade, the United Nations said. Margareta Wahlstrom, president of Swedish Red Cross, told Reuters after her visit to the North late last year that maze yields fell more than 30 per cent from average levels in some areas and rice prices would likely rise this year, aggravating food security. That has resulted in a "significant food gap," leaving some 3.8 million, or 6.6 per cent of its 25 million population, in urgent need of humanitarian assistance worth $120 million, according to Tapan Mishra, the U.N. Resident Coordinator in the North. The United Nations has been struggling to rally donors behind its North Korea programmes and said its 2018 "Needs and Priorities Plan" for the isolated nation was only funded at 24 per cent. Mishra cited international sanctions as a major challenge which has caused delays in aid deliveries and forced other relief groups to scale back their operations in the North. "Without adequate funding this year, the only option left for some agencies will be to close projects that serve as a lifeline for millions of people," Mishra said in a statement. Sanctions UN sanctions technically exempt humanitarian activities. But humanitarian aid for the North nearly ground to a halt last year due to strict interpretations of bans on banking and shipping transactions with Pyongyang, as well as a travel ban for US citizens, according to a dozen officials at UN and US civilian organisations. Last August, the United Nations adopted a US proposal to streamline approval for aid shipments. After meeting with relief groups in January, the US State Department promised to facilitate their North Korea operations in a move partly aimed at expediting nuclear talks with Pyongyang. But there is no clear sign of improvement yet, with the complex, one-off approval procedures continuing to slow deliveries of basic food packages, medical equipment and other supplies, according to Mishra and at least four other organisations. "We would like to see stronger, codified humanitarian protections has written into existing regulations rather than each aid delivery and humanitarian delegation being considered on a case-by-case basis," said Daniel Jasper of the American Friends Service Committee, which has run farming projects in North Korea for 20 years. The Philadelphia-based group, which joined the meeting with US officials, pointed to the current rules limiting shipments to twice a year as "not practical" especially for health programmes requires round-the-clock support. "While unintended consequences of sanctions persist, these delays have a real and tangible impact on the aid that we are able to provide to people who desperately need it," Mishra said.

United Nations warns of worst food harvest in North Korea in a decade

WION Gravitas: Kim restoring rocket launch sites, reports say

Washington's North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun was to meet Wednesday with officials from Japan and South Korea to discuss the outcome of the Hanoi summit last week, amid new evidence that Pyongyang is rebuilding a rocket launch site.

Biegun was to meet separately in Washington with Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, and Japan's Kenji Kanasugi, with a three-way meeting also expected, according to the US State Department.

Their talks take place after US President Donald Trump abruptly cut short the February 27-28 summit in Vietnam with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un amid fundamental differences between the two sides over dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

The summit, their second in under a year, broke up without even a joint statement, and each sought to blame the other's intransigence for the deadlock.

Both sides pledged to continue talking, but no new meetings have been scheduled.

State Department Spokesman Robert Palladino declined Tuesday to say whether contacts between Washington and Pyongyang have resumed since the summit.

On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hopes to be able to send a team to Pyongyang in "the next couple weeks," while acknowledging there had been no commitment from Pyongyang on resuming talks.&nbsp;

The US, Japan and South Korea were confronted with a fresh challenge when new photographs released Tuesday appeared to show that Pyongyang may be pursuing the "rapid rebuilding" of a long-range rocket site at Sohae, after having pulled back nuclear-related activity.

The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said the renewed activity, recorded two days after the summit, may "demonstrate resolve in the face of US rejection" of the North's request for an easing of sanctions.

The site, dormant since August 2018, "has been used in the past for satellite launches, which use ICBM technology banned under UN Security Council resolutions," CSIS said.

The State Department declined to address the reports Wednesday.

Washington's North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun was to meet Wednesday with officials from Japan and South Korea to discuss the outcome of the Hanoi summit last week, amid new evidence that Pyongyang is rebuilding a rocket launch site.

Washington's North Korea envoy Stephen Biegun was to meet Wednesday with officials from Japan and South Korea to discuss the outcome of the Hanoi summit last week, amid new evidence that Pyongyang is rebuilding a rocket launch site. Biegun was to meet separately in Washington with Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, and Japan's Kenji Kanasugi, with a three-way meeting also expected, according to the US State Department. Their talks take place after US President Donald Trump abruptly cut short the February 27-28 summit in Vietnam with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un amid fundamental differences between the two sides over dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The summit, their second in under a year, broke up without even a joint statement, and each sought to blame the other's intransigence for the deadlock. Both sides pledged to continue talking, but no new meetings have been scheduled. State Department Spokesman Robert Palladino declined Tuesday to say whether contacts between Washington and Pyongyang have resumed since the summit. On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hopes to be able to send a team to Pyongyang in "the next couple weeks," while acknowledging there had been no commitment from Pyongyang on resuming talks. The US, Japan and South Korea were confronted with a fresh challenge when new photographs released Tuesday appeared to show that Pyongyang may be pursuing the "rapid rebuilding" of a long-range rocket site at Sohae, after having pulled back nuclear-related activity. The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said the renewed activity, recorded two days after the summit, may "demonstrate resolve in the face of US rejection" of the North's request for an easing of sanctions. The site, dormant since August 2018, "has been used in the past for satellite launches, which use ICBM technology banned under UN Security Council resolutions," CSIS said. The State Department declined to address the reports Wednesday.

US, North Korea envoy in talks after Pyongyang rocket site work revealed

North Korea recorded its worst harvest for more than a decade last year, the United Nations said Wednesday, as natural disasters combined with its lack of arable land and inefficient agriculture to hit production.

The isolated North, which is under several sets of sanctions over its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, has long struggled to feed itself and suffers chronic food shortages.

But last year's harvest was just 4.95 million tonnes, the United Nations said in its Needs and Priorities assessment for 2019, down by 500,000 tonnes.

It was "the lowest production in more than a decade", the UN's Resident Coordinator in the North Tapan Mishra said in a statement.

"This has resulted in a significant food gap."

As a result, 10.9 million people in the North needed humanitarian assistance -- 600,000 more than last year -- with a potential for increased malnutrition and illness.

It is equivalent to 43 per cent of the population.

But while the number of people needing help rose, the UN has had to cut its target for people to help -- from 6.0 million to 3.8 million -- as it seeks to prioritise those most in need.

Funding has fallen far short of what the UN says it needs.

Only 24 per cent of last year's appeal was met, with Mishra describing it as "one of the lowest funded humanitarian plans in the world".

Several agencies had been forced to scale back their programmes and some faced closing projects, he said, appealing to donors to "not let political considerations get in the way of addressing the humanitarian need".

"The human cost of our inability to respond is unmeasurable," he said, adding that sanctions had created unintended delays and challenges to humanitarian programmes, even though they are exempt under UN Security Council resolutions.

Arduous March&nbsp; 
The impoverished North has been frequently condemned by the international community for decades of prioritising the military and its nuclear weapons programme over adequately providing for its people -- an imbalance some critics say the UN's aid programme encourages.

Ahead of his Hanoi summit with leader Kim Jong Un last week, US President Donald Trump repeatedly dangled the prospect of the North becoming an economic powerhouse if it gave up its arsenal, but the two were unable to reach a deal.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies said -- based on its analysis of satellite imagery -- activity is "evident" at a North Korean long-range rocket test site, suggesting Pyongyang may be pursuing its "rapid rebuilding" after the failed summit.

The country industrialised rapidly following the end of the Korean War and for a time was wealthier than the South. Funding from Moscow papered over the effects of chronic economic mismanagement, but that came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union, which was followed by a crippling famine.

That episode -- known as the Arduous March, when hundreds of thousands of people died -- is in the past but North Korea does not have access to the latest agricultural technology or fertilisers and its yields are well below global averages.

It is also a rugged, largely mountainous, country with only around 20 per cent of its land area suitable for cultivation.&nbsp;

It was hit by a heatwave in July and August last year, followed by heavy rains and flash floods from Typhoon Soulik. As a result, the UN said, rice and wheat crops were down 12 to 14 per cent.

The figure is significantly larger than in the South, where rice production was down only 2.6 per cent last year, according to Seoul's statistics, even though it experiences similar weather and climate.

The North's soybean output slumped 39 per cent and production of potatoes -- promoted by leader Kim as a way to increase supplies -- was 34 per cent down, the UN said.

Last month Pyongyang told the UN that it was facing a shortfall of 1.4 million tonnes of food this year.

Mishra insisted that humanitarian agencies were able to monitor their programmes "rigorously" to make sure that help reached the most vulnerable people, adding: "We simply cannot leave them behind."

North Korea recorded its worst harvest for more than a decade last year, the United Nations said Wednesday, as natural disasters combined with its lack of arable land and inefficient agriculture to hit production.

North Korea recorded its worst harvest for more than a decade last year, the United Nations said Wednesday, as natural disasters combined with its lack of arable land and inefficient agriculture to hit production. The isolated North, which is under several sets of sanctions over its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, has long struggled to feed itself and suffers chronic food shortages. But last year's harvest was just 4.95 million tonnes, the United Nations said in its Needs and Priorities assessment for 2019, down by 500,000 tonnes. It was "the lowest production in more than a decade", the UN's Resident Coordinator in the North Tapan Mishra said in a statement. "This has resulted in a significant food gap." As a result, 10.9 million people in the North needed humanitarian assistance -- 600,000 more than last year -- with a potential for increased malnutrition and illness. It is equivalent to 43 per cent of the population. But while the number of people needing help rose, the UN has had to cut its target for people to help -- from 6.0 million to 3.8 million -- as it seeks to prioritise those most in need. Funding has fallen far short of what the UN says it needs. Only 24 per cent of last year's appeal was met, with Mishra describing it as "one of the lowest funded humanitarian plans in the world". Several agencies had been forced to scale back their programmes and some faced closing projects, he said, appealing to donors to "not let political considerations get in the way of addressing the humanitarian need". "The human cost of our inability to respond is unmeasurable," he said, adding that sanctions had created unintended delays and challenges to humanitarian programmes, even though they are exempt under UN Security Council resolutions. Arduous March The impoverished North has been frequently condemned by the international community for decades of prioritising the military and its nuclear weapons programme over adequately providing for its people -- an imbalance some critics say the UN's aid programme encourages. Ahead of his Hanoi summit with leader Kim Jong Un last week, US President Donald Trump repeatedly dangled the prospect of the North becoming an economic powerhouse if it gave up its arsenal, but the two were unable to reach a deal. The Center for Strategic and International Studies said -- based on its analysis of satellite imagery -- activity is "evident" at a North Korean long-range rocket test site, suggesting Pyongyang may be pursuing its "rapid rebuilding" after the failed summit. The country industrialised rapidly following the end of the Korean War and for a time was wealthier than the South. Funding from Moscow papered over the effects of chronic economic mismanagement, but that came to an end with the collapse of the Soviet Union, which was followed by a crippling famine. That episode -- known as the Arduous March, when hundreds of thousands of people died -- is in the past but North Korea does not have access to the latest agricultural technology or fertilisers and its yields are well below global averages. It is also a rugged, largely mountainous, country with only around 20 per cent of its land area suitable for cultivation. It was hit by a heatwave in July and August last year, followed by heavy rains and flash floods from Typhoon Soulik. As a result, the UN said, rice and wheat crops were down 12 to 14 per cent. The figure is significantly larger than in the South, where rice production was down only 2.6 per cent last year, according to Seoul's statistics, even though it experiences similar weather and climate. The North's soybean output slumped 39 per cent and production of potatoes -- promoted by leader Kim as a way to increase supplies -- was 34 per cent down, the UN said. Last month Pyongyang told the UN that it was facing a shortfall of 1.4 million tonnes of food this year. Mishra insisted that humanitarian agencies were able to monitor their programmes "rigorously" to make sure that help reached the most vulnerable people, adding: "We simply cannot leave them behind."

North Korea food production 'lowest for a decade': UN

Satellite images analyzed by experts on Wednesday show the partial reconstruction of facilities at the satellite launching base in Sohae, North Korea, which the regime had started to dismantle last year, and which had shown no activity for months.

The satellite images analyzed, captured on March 2, two days after the Hanoi summit that concluded without an agreement between the US and North Korea, show that reconstruction has begun on the launch pad and the vertical test bench for rocket engines.

The images analyzed separately by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the website 38 North (both based in Washington DC), show that the vertical test stand has been partially rebuilt and around it are construction cranes, vehicles and various supplies.

The images also show that on the launch pad, the rail-mounted transfer building is being reassembled and support cranes are visible at the base, located in the northwest of the country, close to the border with China.

North Korea began to dismantle these two key facilities at Sohae last June, after the first summit between the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/no-meeting-with-china-as-north-korea-leader-kim-jong-uns-train-makes-no-stop-in-beijing-201088">North Korean leader Kim Jong Un</a> and US president Donald Trump, in Singapore.

Although the regime did not commit to dismantling Sohae on paper, Trump assured that Kim himself had given him his word that he would dismantle the launch site, and the works to dismantle the base were interpreted as a gesture showing the willingness of Pyongyang to advance towards denuclearization.

The reasons why the regime has opted to restore these structures are unknown, as well as the exact date on which the reconstruction work began, it must be some time between February 16 and March 2 based on previous satellite images.

CSIS analysts believe that it could indicate that North Korea wants to be defiant after the US rejected its demands for the lifting of sanctions at the summit in Hanoi.

Pyongyang and Washington DC give different versions of what each side put on the table, but the Hanoi meeting made it clear that the disagreement circles around the number of North Korean nuclear program facilities and assets that should be dismantled and the selection and extend of international sanctions on Pyongyang that would be alleviated in return.

Satellite images analyzed by experts on Wednesday show the partial reconstruction of facilities at the satellite launching base in Sohae, North Korea, which the regime had started to dismantle last year, and which had shown no activity for months.

Satellite images analyzed by experts on Wednesday show the partial reconstruction of facilities at the satellite launching base in Sohae, North Korea, which the regime had started to dismantle last year, and which had shown no activity for months. The satellite images analyzed, captured on March 2, two days after the Hanoi summit that concluded without an agreement between the US and North Korea, show that reconstruction has begun on the launch pad and the vertical test bench for rocket engines. The images analyzed separately by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the website 38 North (both based in Washington DC), show that the vertical test stand has been partially rebuilt and around it are construction cranes, vehicles and various supplies. The images also show that on the launch pad, the rail-mounted transfer building is being reassembled and support cranes are visible at the base, located in the northwest of the country, close to the border with China. North Korea began to dismantle these two key facilities at Sohae last June, after the first summit between the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US president Donald Trump, in Singapore. Although the regime did not commit to dismantling Sohae on paper, Trump assured that Kim himself had given him his word that he would dismantle the launch site, and the works to dismantle the base were interpreted as a gesture showing the willingness of Pyongyang to advance towards denuclearization. The reasons why the regime has opted to restore these structures are unknown, as well as the exact date on which the reconstruction work began, it must be some time between February 16 and March 2 based on previous satellite images. CSIS analysts believe that it could indicate that North Korea wants to be defiant after the US rejected its demands for the lifting of sanctions at the summit in Hanoi. Pyongyang and Washington DC give different versions of what each side put on the table, but the Hanoi meeting made it clear that the disagreement circles around the number of North Korean nuclear program facilities and assets that should be dismantled and the selection and extend of international sanctions on Pyongyang that would be alleviated in return.

Satellites detect partial reconstruction of North Korean missile base

Reports: North Korea reportedly restoring rocket launch site after Trump-Kim summit failure

Kim Jong-Un returns to North Korea after failed summit with Donald Trump

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he was hopeful the United States would send a delegation to North Korea in the coming weeks after a summit between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-ending-south-korea-war-games-not-concession-to-kim-201236">President Donald Trump</a> and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/our-stance-will-never-change-even-if-us-seeks-further-talks-north-korea-on-us-sanctions-relief-200370">North Korean leader Kim Jong Un</a> ended with no deal.

The leaders' second summit, held last week in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, failed to produce any agreement or immediate plan for follow-up negotiations.

"I am hopeful, although I have no commitment yet, that we will be back at it, that I'll have a team in Pyongyang in the next couple weeks," Pompeo told the Iowa Farm Bureau.

"I'm continuing to work to find those places where there's a shared interest," he said.

The two sides gave different reasons for the abrupt end to the talks about denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula.

Trump said on Thursday that North Korea wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, while North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho said they had only demanded a partial easing in exchange for dismantling its main nuclear site at Yongbyon.

However, the two sides left room for further discussions, with Trump highlighting the economic benefits for North Korea if it gave up its nuclear weapons.

North Korean state media, which in the past has used fiery rhetoric against Trump and blamed the United States for previous failed negotiations, reported on Tuesday that Kim returned home after a "successful" trip to Vietnam.

It made no mention of the summit breakdown or any disagreement between the two leaders, in line with its positive coverage last week.

Pompeo said during the Iowa visit that his team has been trying to convince Kim that the security of his country and government would not be compromised if it abandoned its nuclear weapons program.

The United States and South Korea announced on Saturday an end to large-scale joint military exercises held every spring.

North Korea has long derided the combined exercises, which often involve U.S. nuclear bombers, stealth jets and naval ships in what Pyongyang has called a "rehearsal for war."

Smaller drills will continue, but ending large-scale exercises could help the nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang, South Korean officials said.

In another indication that the North might be trying to take steps to secure a compromise, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that a five-megawatt reactor at Yongbyon, which produces weapons-grade plutonium used to build bombs, had not been operational since late last year.

The news agency, citing lawmakers briefed by intelligence officials, said there had been no sign of reprocessing plutonium at the reactor.

That contradicted US&nbsp;nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker who said spent fuel generated by the reactor from 2016-18 appeared to have been reprocessed starting last May.

BREAKDOWN

The summit collapse could hurt South Korean President Moon Jae-in's bid to play the role of mediator, as requested by Trump, according to Moon's office. Moon had hoped that eased US sanctions would help to restart projects between the Koreas, including a factory park and tourism zone.

Some pro-engagement experts in South Korea have blamed the United States for failing to address the North's concerns.

A former unification minister, Chung Se-hyun, who advises Moon on Korean relations, said he believed the summit fell apart after John Bolton, Trump's hawkish national security adviser, joined the discussions.

"Bolton being present at the expanded second-day meeting was a sign of breakdown," Chung told a seminar in Seoul on Tuesday.

"They had Bolton in raising the bar, and the North Koreans responded with stronger demands for sanctions relief, which leads them nowhere. It was a premeditated collapse."

Other experts say the Moon administration can no longer play a bridging role by echoing North Korea's demands for sanctions relief. They also worry that the halt in major military drills could hurt joint readiness and the US-South Korea alliance.

"As a mediator, your job is to draw not just US concessions, but also more proactive action from North Korea toward denuclearisation," said Shin Beom-chul, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.

Moon, who has urged his officials to find a way to break the impasse, said in a speech to naval cadets on Tuesday that the pursuit of peace with the North would deliver denuclearisation and a "peace-driven" economy.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he was hopeful the United States would send a delegation to North Korea in the coming weeks after a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended with no deal.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he was hopeful the United States would send a delegation to North Korea in the coming weeks after a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended with no deal. The leaders' second summit, held last week in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, failed to produce any agreement or immediate plan for follow-up negotiations. "I am hopeful, although I have no commitment yet, that we will be back at it, that I'll have a team in Pyongyang in the next couple weeks," Pompeo told the Iowa Farm Bureau. "I'm continuing to work to find those places where there's a shared interest," he said. The two sides gave different reasons for the abrupt end to the talks about denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula. Trump said on Thursday that North Korea wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, while North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho said they had only demanded a partial easing in exchange for dismantling its main nuclear site at Yongbyon. However, the two sides left room for further discussions, with Trump highlighting the economic benefits for North Korea if it gave up its nuclear weapons. North Korean state media, which in the past has used fiery rhetoric against Trump and blamed the United States for previous failed negotiations, reported on Tuesday that Kim returned home after a "successful" trip to Vietnam. It made no mention of the summit breakdown or any disagreement between the two leaders, in line with its positive coverage last week. Pompeo said during the Iowa visit that his team has been trying to convince Kim that the security of his country and government would not be compromised if it abandoned its nuclear weapons program. The United States and South Korea announced on Saturday an end to large-scale joint military exercises held every spring. North Korea has long derided the combined exercises, which often involve U.S. nuclear bombers, stealth jets and naval ships in what Pyongyang has called a "rehearsal for war." Smaller drills will continue, but ending large-scale exercises could help the nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang, South Korean officials said. In another indication that the North might be trying to take steps to secure a compromise, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that a five-megawatt reactor at Yongbyon, which produces weapons-grade plutonium used to build bombs, had not been operational since late last year. The news agency, citing lawmakers briefed by intelligence officials, said there had been no sign of reprocessing plutonium at the reactor. That contradicted US nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker who said spent fuel generated by the reactor from 2016-18 appeared to have been reprocessed starting last May. BREAKDOWN The summit collapse could hurt South Korean President Moon Jae-in's bid to play the role of mediator, as requested by Trump, according to Moon's office. Moon had hoped that eased US sanctions would help to restart projects between the Koreas, including a factory park and tourism zone. Some pro-engagement experts in South Korea have blamed the United States for failing to address the North's concerns. A former unification minister, Chung Se-hyun, who advises Moon on Korean relations, said he believed the summit fell apart after John Bolton, Trump's hawkish national security adviser, joined the discussions. "Bolton being present at the expanded second-day meeting was a sign of breakdown," Chung told a seminar in Seoul on Tuesday. "They had Bolton in raising the bar, and the North Koreans responded with stronger demands for sanctions relief, which leads them nowhere. It was a premeditated collapse." Other experts say the Moon administration can no longer play a bridging role by echoing North Korea's demands for sanctions relief. They also worry that the halt in major military drills could hurt joint readiness and the US-South Korea alliance. "As a mediator, your job is to draw not just US concessions, but also more proactive action from North Korea toward denuclearisation," said Shin Beom-chul, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. Moon, who has urged his officials to find a way to break the impasse, said in a speech to naval cadets on Tuesday that the pursuit of peace with the North would deliver denuclearisation and a "peace-driven" economy.

US Secretary Mike Pompeo sees more North Korea talks, Seoul faces limits in mediator role

The armoured train carrying North Korea's&nbsp;leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-leader-kim-jong-un-leaves-for-pyongyang-after-vietnamese-state-visit-200721">Kim Jong Un</a> on his way back from the Hanoi summit on Monday travelled past the Chinese capital on its journey back to Pyongyang, ending speculation about a possible meeting with the Chinese president.

The train went through the port city of Tianjin (southeast of Beijing) at 7 am and continued north towards Liaoning province, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

Kim's train departed from the Vietnamese village of Dong Dang on Saturday, two days after the abrupt ending of his summit with the United States President, Donald Trump, which closed without any agreements signed on North Korean denuclearization or the lifting of sanctions on Pyongyang.

The fact that the presidential train did not stop in Beijing excluded the possibility of a meeting between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

There had been speculation about a possible meeting because Kim has always met with the leadership in Beijing - the main ally of Pyongyang - before or after summits with Trump in 2018 or South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

It was initially thought that the train would stop in Guangzhou either before or after the Hanoi summit in Vietnam.

Kim travelled 60 hours by train on the 4,500-kilometer journey from Pyongyang to Vietnam to attend the summit.&nbsp;

The train was expected to reach Dandong in the Chinese province of Liaoning bordering North Korea before crossing over the border to continue towards Pyongyang.

The US president returned home after the US delegation left Hanoi on Thursday hours ahead of schedule and without declaration being signed on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Before his departure, Trump attributed the lack of an agreement to North Korea's insistence that the US lift all sanctions on the isolated North-East Asian nation, although he said that he and Kim had said goodbye on good terms.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho contradicted Trump's remarks shortly afterwards, saying that Pyongyang had only sought partial sanctions relief.

Following the summit with Trump, Kim held meetings with the Vietnamese leadership.

The armoured train carrying North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un on his way back from the Hanoi summit on Monday travelled past the Chinese capital on its journey back to Pyongyang, ending speculation about a possible meeting with the Chinese president.

The armoured train carrying North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un on his way back from the Hanoi summit on Monday travelled past the Chinese capital on its journey back to Pyongyang, ending speculation about a possible meeting with the Chinese president. The train went through the port city of Tianjin (southeast of Beijing) at 7 am and continued north towards Liaoning province, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. Kim's train departed from the Vietnamese village of Dong Dang on Saturday, two days after the abrupt ending of his summit with the United States President, Donald Trump, which closed without any agreements signed on North Korean denuclearization or the lifting of sanctions on Pyongyang. The fact that the presidential train did not stop in Beijing excluded the possibility of a meeting between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping. There had been speculation about a possible meeting because Kim has always met with the leadership in Beijing - the main ally of Pyongyang - before or after summits with Trump in 2018 or South Korean President Moon Jae-in. It was initially thought that the train would stop in Guangzhou either before or after the Hanoi summit in Vietnam. Kim travelled 60 hours by train on the 4,500-kilometer journey from Pyongyang to Vietnam to attend the summit. The train was expected to reach Dandong in the Chinese province of Liaoning bordering North Korea before crossing over the border to continue towards Pyongyang. The US president returned home after the US delegation left Hanoi on Thursday hours ahead of schedule and without declaration being signed on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Before his departure, Trump attributed the lack of an agreement to North Korea's insistence that the US lift all sanctions on the isolated North-East Asian nation, although he said that he and Kim had said goodbye on good terms. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho contradicted Trump's remarks shortly afterwards, saying that Pyongyang had only sought partial sanctions relief. Following the summit with Trump, Kim held meetings with the Vietnamese leadership.

No meeting with China as North Korea leader Kim Jong Un's train makes no stop in Beijing

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises.

"North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they don't have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons," Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference.

He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be "very, very strong."

According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs.

The two "made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner," the Pentagon said.

South Korea's military issued a similar statement also confirming plans to end the spring joint military exercises. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon is planning on visiting the United States in the coming week to meet with US officials to discuss the second US-North Korea summit as well as the future agenda, according to a South Korean official.

The Pentagon said the US and South Korea had agreed to "newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs." US officials have long said the scope of the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced.

Reuters and others reported on Friday that such an announcement would take place. To encourage talks, the United States and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump.

In Vietnam this week, the second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without a deal on sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear program.

Trump on Saturday addressed criticism from the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison. They had complained when Trump said at a Hanoi news conference that he believed Kim had nothing to do with Warmbier's death.

Trump said he was trying to maintain "a delicate balance" to coax the North Koreans into giving up their nuclear program.

The United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not specified when.

Some observers credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal. Others criticised him for praising Kim's leadership and accepting his assertion that he had been unaware of Warmbier's treatment.

Analysts believe North Korea has 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the US mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017. Washington has demanded complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as "gangster-like."

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that North Korea does not have any economic future with nuclear weapons as the Pentagon confirmed the United States and South Korea had agreed to end joint large scale spring military exercises. "North Korea has an incredible, brilliant economic future if they make a deal, but they don't have any economic future if they have nuclear weapons," Trump said at a Conservative Political Action Conference. He added that the relationship with North Korea seemed to be "very, very strong." According to a statement, acting Pentagon Chief Patrick Shanahan spoke with his South Korea counterpart on Saturday and they agreed to adapt their training programs. The two "made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner," the Pentagon said. South Korea's military issued a similar statement also confirming plans to end the spring joint military exercises. Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon is planning on visiting the United States in the coming week to meet with US officials to discuss the second US-North Korea summit as well as the future agenda, according to a South Korean official. The Pentagon said the US and South Korea had agreed to "newly designed Command Post exercises and revised field training programs." US officials have long said the scope of the spring exercises, known as Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, would be reduced. Reuters and others reported on Friday that such an announcement would take place. To encourage talks, the United States and South Korea have suspended a number of military exercises since the first summit last year between Kim and Trump. In Vietnam this week, the second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended without a deal on sanctions relief North Korea would get in exchange for steps to give up its nuclear program. Trump on Saturday addressed criticism from the parents of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after 17 months in a North Korean prison. They had complained when Trump said at a Hanoi news conference that he believed Kim had nothing to do with Warmbier's death. Trump said he was trying to maintain "a delicate balance" to coax the North Koreans into giving up their nuclear program. The United States and North Korea have said they intend to continue talks, but have not specified when. Some observers credited Trump for refusing to be drawn into a bad deal. Others criticised him for praising Kim's leadership and accepting his assertion that he had been unaware of Warmbier's treatment. Analysts believe North Korea has 20 to 60 nuclear warheads which could threaten the US mainland if fitted to its intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United Nations and the United States ratcheted up sanctions when North Korea conducted nuclear and ballistic missile tests in 2017. Washington has demanded complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation before sanctions can be lifted, a position Pyongyang has denounced as "gangster-like."

North Korea has no economic future if it has nuclear weapons: Donald Trump

The leader of North Korea left the Vietnamese capital on Saturday for Pyongyang by train, after concluding a two-day state visit, following his failed summit with the President of the United States earlier in the week.

Before leaving for his country, he had visited the mausoleum of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-pays-tribute-to-ho-chi-minh-on-vietnam-visit-200677">Vietnamese national hero Ho Chi Minh</a>, with whom his grandfather Kim Il-Sung met in Hanoi in 1964, which had marked the last official visit by a North Korean leader to Vietnam.

After the shortstop, he travelled by car the 170 kilometres (106 miles) that separate Hanoi from Dong Dang station on the border with China.

He arrived at the station after 12.30 pm and boarded a high-security train to return to his country.

A crowd waving Vietnamese and North Korean flags to the beats of the national orchestra had gathered at the gates of the railway station to bid farewell to the leader of North Korea.

Kim waved to the gathered crowd with a broad smile and boarded the train, flanked by his security personnel.

On Friday, Hanoi had hosted a grand dinner for Kim, that was attended by top officials of the country.

Earlier in the day, he had met Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong.

During the meeting, both leaders had pledged to reinforce ties between the two countries that share historical and ideological affinities owing to the communist root of their regimes.

In recent months, North Korea has shown an interest in the economic transition undertaken by Vietnam since the mid-1980s.

Vietnam had successfully moved from orthodox communism to a state-protected market economy without the Communist Party losing its political hegemony.

Kim had arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday to participate in his second summit with US President Donald Trump, which ended ahead of schedule on Thursday after the two sides failed to agree on the denuclearization of North Korea and the lifting of sanctions.

The two countries had presented different versions of the meet, after it concluded, leading to confusion over its outcome.

However, on Friday, the negotiating teams of both the countries underlined the progress achieved during the talks and made an appeal to continue with the talks and hoped to reach an agreement at a forthcoming summit.

Meanwhile, Kim will be travelling 60 hours to cover 4,500 kilometres that separate the Vietnamese border from the North Korean capital.

The leader of North Korea left the Vietnamese capital on Saturday for Pyongyang by train, after concluding a two-day state visit, following his failed summit with the President of the United States earlier in the week.

The leader of North Korea left the Vietnamese capital on Saturday for Pyongyang by train, after concluding a two-day state visit, following his failed summit with the President of the United States earlier in the week. Before leaving for his country, he had visited the mausoleum of Vietnamese national hero Ho Chi Minh, with whom his grandfather Kim Il-Sung met in Hanoi in 1964, which had marked the last official visit by a North Korean leader to Vietnam. After the shortstop, he travelled by car the 170 kilometres (106 miles) that separate Hanoi from Dong Dang station on the border with China. He arrived at the station after 12.30 pm and boarded a high-security train to return to his country. A crowd waving Vietnamese and North Korean flags to the beats of the national orchestra had gathered at the gates of the railway station to bid farewell to the leader of North Korea. Kim waved to the gathered crowd with a broad smile and boarded the train, flanked by his security personnel. On Friday, Hanoi had hosted a grand dinner for Kim, that was attended by top officials of the country. Earlier in the day, he had met Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong. During the meeting, both leaders had pledged to reinforce ties between the two countries that share historical and ideological affinities owing to the communist root of their regimes. In recent months, North Korea has shown an interest in the economic transition undertaken by Vietnam since the mid-1980s. Vietnam had successfully moved from orthodox communism to a state-protected market economy without the Communist Party losing its political hegemony. Kim had arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday to participate in his second summit with US President Donald Trump, which ended ahead of schedule on Thursday after the two sides failed to agree on the denuclearization of North Korea and the lifting of sanctions. The two countries had presented different versions of the meet, after it concluded, leading to confusion over its outcome. However, on Friday, the negotiating teams of both the countries underlined the progress achieved during the talks and made an appeal to continue with the talks and hoped to reach an agreement at a forthcoming summit. Meanwhile, Kim will be travelling 60 hours to cover 4,500 kilometres that separate the Vietnamese border from the North Korean capital.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un leaves for Pyongyang after Vietnamese state visit

The United States and North Korea on Friday put forward starkly different accounts over the breakdown of a high-stakes summit in Hanoi but offered guarded hope that they could meet again.

After weeks of building expectations and with a signing ceremony ready to go, President Donald Trump abruptly ended his second-ever meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and declared a deadlock.

"Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downbeat Trump told reporters.

"Basically they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn't do that," Trump said before flying back to Washington.

In an exceptionally rare meeting with reporters, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho summoned the press in Hanoi at midnight and denied the White House account that Pyongyang was only seeking a complete deal.&nbsp;

North Korea had offered to "permanently and completely dismantle all the nuclear production facilities" at its main complex in Yongbyon if the US dropped sanctions "that hamper the civilian economy and the livelihood of our people", Ri said.

He warned that the North's stance was "invariable" and that its offer will "never change".

But North Korean state media -- which less than two years ago was branding Trump a "mentally deranged US dotard" -- offered a more conciliatory take, saying the summit had been "productive".

Kim and Trump "agreed to continue having productive talks to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the improvement of US-North Korea relations", the Korean Central News Agency said.

The North Koreans appeared to be thinking through their response to the often unpredictable Trump, who insisted that he could obtain a better deal.

"I'd much rather do it right than do it fast," Trump told reporters, reaffirming his "close relationship" with Kim.

"There's a warmth that we have and I hope that stays, I think it will."

Trump also said he hoped to see Kim again soon but offered no details.

'It will take a little while'

The outcome in Hanoi fell far short of hopes that the meeting would build on the leaders' summit in Singapore in June, which marked a historic first but resulted only in a vague commitment to "work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".&nbsp;

Progress subsequently stalled, with the two sides disagreeing on what that means.

The US president has since frequently dangled the prospect of a brighter economic future for a nuclear-free North Korea, at one point tweeting there was "AWESOME" potential.

But it was not enough.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who accompanied Trump, said both sides "need to regroup" before agreeing to another meeting, adding: "My sense is it will take a little while."

Pompeo however also said "there's still a basis for believing that we can move forward".

Beyond the sub-par summit result, Trump came under fire at home for saying that Kim "didn't know" about the torture of an American college student jailed in the North.

Otto Warmbier, who was arrested for allegedly taking down a poster, returned home in 2017 in a coma and died soon afterward, with a US judge ruling that the 22-year-old had died from torture.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she thought there was "something wrong" with a US president choosing to believe "thugs" such as Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the US intelligence community.

'Major failure'

With a table already prepared for a working lunch and signing ceremony, Trump moved up his final news conference by two hours as he and Kim left without any accord.

"This is a major failure," tweeted Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund peace foundation, saying it showed the limits of top-level summitry with "not enough time or staff" to work out a deal.&nbsp;

Trump flew around the world for the meeting and Kim undertook a mammoth two-and-a-half-day trek through China in his olive green train, travelling 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles).&nbsp;

Trump headed home, and Kim will stay on in Hanoi for a state visit.

The US leader placed calls from Air Force One to the leaders of US allies Japan and South Korea to discuss the summit, Sanders said.&nbsp;

Seoul said that Trump "expressed regret" to President Moon Jae-in, who helped arrange the summits, over not striking a deal with Kim.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a longstanding hawk on North Korea, told reporters that he "fully supports President Trump's decision to make no easy compromise".

In China, North Korea's primary ally, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang voiced understanding, saying that "solving this problem is definitely not something that can be achieved overnight"

'Rocket man'

As in Singapore, the two men put on a show of bonhomie in Vietnam -- a far cry from 2017, when Trump was mocking Kim as "rocket man" and threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests.

The two leaders, nearly 40 years apart in age, appeared to share jokes in front of reporters and indulged in a poolside stroll Thursday around the gardens of the luxury Metropole Hotel.

Before the summit, there was talk that there could be a political declaration ending the 1950-53 Korean War, which finished technically with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

Trump's failure to clinch a deal paradoxically brought him praise within his Republican Party -- some members had privately fretted that he was too eager to seal a historic accord.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Trump "should be commended for his personal commitment to persuading Kim Jong Un to pursue a different path -- and for walking away when it became clear North Korea was not ready to commit enough to denuclearisation."&nbsp;

The United States and North Korea on Friday put forward starkly different accounts over the breakdown of a high-stakes summit in Hanoi but offered guarded hope that they could meet again.

The United States and North Korea on Friday put forward starkly different accounts over the breakdown of a high-stakes summit in Hanoi but offered guarded hope that they could meet again. After weeks of building expectations and with a signing ceremony ready to go, President Donald Trump abruptly ended his second-ever meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and declared a deadlock. "Sometimes you have to walk and this was just one of those times," an unusually downbeat Trump told reporters. "Basically they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn't do that," Trump said before flying back to Washington. In an exceptionally rare meeting with reporters, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho summoned the press in Hanoi at midnight and denied the White House account that Pyongyang was only seeking a complete deal. North Korea had offered to "permanently and completely dismantle all the nuclear production facilities" at its main complex in Yongbyon if the US dropped sanctions "that hamper the civilian economy and the livelihood of our people", Ri said. He warned that the North's stance was "invariable" and that its offer will "never change". But North Korean state media -- which less than two years ago was branding Trump a "mentally deranged US dotard" -- offered a more conciliatory take, saying the summit had been "productive". Kim and Trump "agreed to continue having productive talks to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the improvement of US-North Korea relations", the Korean Central News Agency said. The North Koreans appeared to be thinking through their response to the often unpredictable Trump, who insisted that he could obtain a better deal. "I'd much rather do it right than do it fast," Trump told reporters, reaffirming his "close relationship" with Kim. "There's a warmth that we have and I hope that stays, I think it will." Trump also said he hoped to see Kim again soon but offered no details. 'It will take a little while' The outcome in Hanoi fell far short of hopes that the meeting would build on the leaders' summit in Singapore in June, which marked a historic first but resulted only in a vague commitment to "work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". Progress subsequently stalled, with the two sides disagreeing on what that means. The US president has since frequently dangled the prospect of a brighter economic future for a nuclear-free North Korea, at one point tweeting there was "AWESOME" potential. But it was not enough. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who accompanied Trump, said both sides "need to regroup" before agreeing to another meeting, adding: "My sense is it will take a little while." Pompeo however also said "there's still a basis for believing that we can move forward". Beyond the sub-par summit result, Trump came under fire at home for saying that Kim "didn't know" about the torture of an American college student jailed in the North. Otto Warmbier, who was arrested for allegedly taking down a poster, returned home in 2017 in a coma and died soon afterward, with a US judge ruling that the 22-year-old had died from torture. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she thought there was "something wrong" with a US president choosing to believe "thugs" such as Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the US intelligence community. 'Major failure' With a table already prepared for a working lunch and signing ceremony, Trump moved up his final news conference by two hours as he and Kim left without any accord. "This is a major failure," tweeted Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund peace foundation, saying it showed the limits of top-level summitry with "not enough time or staff" to work out a deal. Trump flew around the world for the meeting and Kim undertook a mammoth two-and-a-half-day trek through China in his olive green train, travelling 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles). Trump headed home, and Kim will stay on in Hanoi for a state visit. The US leader placed calls from Air Force One to the leaders of US allies Japan and South Korea to discuss the summit, Sanders said. Seoul said that Trump "expressed regret" to President Moon Jae-in, who helped arrange the summits, over not striking a deal with Kim. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a longstanding hawk on North Korea, told reporters that he "fully supports President Trump's decision to make no easy compromise". In China, North Korea's primary ally, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang voiced understanding, saying that "solving this problem is definitely not something that can be achieved overnight" 'Rocket man' As in Singapore, the two men put on a show of bonhomie in Vietnam -- a far cry from 2017, when Trump was mocking Kim as "rocket man" and threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea over its nuclear and missile tests. The two leaders, nearly 40 years apart in age, appeared to share jokes in front of reporters and indulged in a poolside stroll Thursday around the gardens of the luxury Metropole Hotel. Before the summit, there was talk that there could be a political declaration ending the 1950-53 Korean War, which finished technically with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Trump's failure to clinch a deal paradoxically brought him praise within his Republican Party -- some members had privately fretted that he was too eager to seal a historic accord. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Trump "should be commended for his personal commitment to persuading Kim Jong Un to pursue a different path -- and for walking away when it became clear North Korea was not ready to commit enough to denuclearisation."

Trump, Kim Jong-un agree to continue having productive talks on North Korea's denuclearisation

By Sojin Lim

The summit talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and US President&nbsp;Donald Trump, began in a climate of surprise and expectation in Singapore in June 2018. They have now ended (for the time being) in disappointment in Hanoi, Vietnam, with Trump walking out.

The US president said: “It was all about the sanctions. They wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn’t do that … Sometimes you have to walk and this was one of those times.”

But is this the full story? Time will tell.

Either way, when Kim and Trump first met last year in Singapore, it was viewed as a victory for Kim’s gesture politics and a ray of hope for stability in the region. But as the latest round of talks ends prematurely without agreement, it seems Vietnam, the host, is the only winner – thanks to the summit drawing attention to the recent success of that country’s impressive economic development.

But while the US, North Korea and Vietnam have been dominating headlines, where has South Korea – the other principal stakeholder – been? So far, it seems to have been conspicuously absent. Is this because South Korea was not a part of the armistice agreement (between North Korea, the US, China and the UN) that halted the Korean War? Or is it because South Korea ultimately wouldn’t benefit from any North Korea-US agreement?

Certainly, South Korea is an immediate victim of the failed Hanoi summit. As soon as Trump abandoned the talks, the South Korean stock market fell dramatically. If Kim now resumes missile tests, South Korea would be the nation most at threat.

Indeed, even if Trump agrees eventually to lift the sanctions on North Korea, it would likely be South Korea that would have to provide most of the financial support to North Korea. The only immediate benefit for South Korea, if future negotiations between Kim and Trump go well, would be a diminished threat of war.

Not all doom and gloom

But South Korea could also benefit economically – at least in the long term – in a post-sanction environment. It could, for example, reopen the joint Kaesong Industrial Complex, which would benefit some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea. South Korea could also expect a rising employment rate, due to more business opportunities with North Korea and beyond, and market expansion through the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund (IKCF). The IKCF was established in 1990 under the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund Act to promote mutual understanding and socio-economic cooperation between the Koreas. Anticipating lifting of sanctions, South Korea increased its IKCF budget to $890.7m in 2019, a 15 per cent increase in 2018.

With sanctions lifted, South Korea could also expect increased trade and tourism profits by linking railways between the two Koreas. Indeed, one of the main reasons why Kim took the train from North Korea to Vietnam was to send a message to South Korea: if South Korea pushes for an end to sanctions, it could run its railways through the north and connect with trade routes in China, Russia and Vietnam.

But these benefits rely on one key caveat: they will only happen if either North Korea or the US gives way to the other. And until that happens, this chicken-or-egg dilemma will worsen relations between the two Koreas.

Will he or won’t he?

It seems unlikely that Kim will surrender his nuclear programme. As the second summit was staged, on February 27, news broke of another well-known nuclear state, Pakistan, reportedly shooting down Indian military aircraft over Kashmir. The Pakistani prime minister, Imran Khan, immediately called a meeting of Pakistan’s National Command Authority and ordered a no-fly zone over the country, later commenting that given “the weapons they (India) have and we have, can we afford a miscalculation?”

The two events may seem unconnected, but it is highly likely that this has reaffirmed to Kim why he needs nuclear weapons. Remaining a de facto nuclear state is key to Kim ensuring his regime’s survival. Nuclear capability is certainly not something he will readily concede.

It is also doubtful whether Trump truly wants to pay too much attention to North Korea’s denuclearisation and economic development. It’s more likely that Trump is using his summits with Kim to strengthen his own domestic standing. Trump announced he was shelving an earlier second summit last year so he could focus on the mid-term elections – a ploy, perhaps, to attract more votes. And it’s perfectly possible now that he’s using the Hanoi summit to distract people from his ongoing scandals at home. Again, on the day Trump met Kim, Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, was giving highly critical testimony to Congress about his dealings with Trump.

And so South Korean president Moon Jae-in seems stuck between North Korea and the US – neither of whom seem entirely committed to their summit’s success. Meanwhile, Moon will face growing domestic criticism from conservatives at home over his growing IKCF budget – and the ongoing lack of results. There is still hope for the Korean peninsula, but it is dwindling. And if Moon is to survive, and South Korea is to benefit, he will have to find novel ways of getting Kim and Trump back to the negotiating table. It will be no easy task.

(Sojin Lim is Senior Lecturer, Deputy Director of the International Institute of Korean Studies, University of Central Lancashire)

(This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/north-korea-us-summit-what-its-failure-means-for-the-peninsulas-future-112634">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

By Sojin Lim The summit talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and US President Donald Trump, began in a climate of surprise and expectation in Singapore in June 2018.

By Sojin Lim The summit talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and US President Donald Trump, began in a climate of surprise and expectation in Singapore in June 2018. They have now ended (for the time being) in disappointment in Hanoi, Vietnam, with Trump walking out. The US president said: “It was all about the sanctions. They wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn’t do that … Sometimes you have to walk and this was one of those times.” But is this the full story? Time will tell. Either way, when Kim and Trump first met last year in Singapore, it was viewed as a victory for Kim’s gesture politics and a ray of hope for stability in the region. But as the latest round of talks ends prematurely without agreement, it seems Vietnam, the host, is the only winner – thanks to the summit drawing attention to the recent success of that country’s impressive economic development. But while the US, North Korea and Vietnam have been dominating headlines, where has South Korea – the other principal stakeholder – been? So far, it seems to have been conspicuously absent. Is this because South Korea was not a part of the armistice agreement (between North Korea, the US, China and the UN) that halted the Korean War? Or is it because South Korea ultimately wouldn’t benefit from any North Korea-US agreement? Certainly, South Korea is an immediate victim of the failed Hanoi summit. As soon as Trump abandoned the talks, the South Korean stock market fell dramatically. If Kim now resumes missile tests, South Korea would be the nation most at threat. Indeed, even if Trump agrees eventually to lift the sanctions on North Korea, it would likely be South Korea that would have to provide most of the financial support to North Korea. The only immediate benefit for South Korea, if future negotiations between Kim and Trump go well, would be a diminished threat of war. Not all doom and gloom But South Korea could also benefit economically – at least in the long term – in a post-sanction environment. It could, for example, reopen the joint Kaesong Industrial Complex, which would benefit some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea. South Korea could also expect a rising employment rate, due to more business opportunities with North Korea and beyond, and market expansion through the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund (IKCF). The IKCF was established in 1990 under the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund Act to promote mutual understanding and socio-economic cooperation between the Koreas. Anticipating lifting of sanctions, South Korea increased its IKCF budget to $890.7m in 2019, a 15 per cent increase in 2018. With sanctions lifted, South Korea could also expect increased trade and tourism profits by linking railways between the two Koreas. Indeed, one of the main reasons why Kim took the train from North Korea to Vietnam was to send a message to South Korea: if South Korea pushes for an end to sanctions, it could run its railways through the north and connect with trade routes in China, Russia and Vietnam. But these benefits rely on one key caveat: they will only happen if either North Korea or the US gives way to the other. And until that happens, this chicken-or-egg dilemma will worsen relations between the two Koreas. Will he or won’t he? It seems unlikely that Kim will surrender his nuclear programme. As the second summit was staged, on February 27, news broke of another well-known nuclear state, Pakistan, reportedly shooting down Indian military aircraft over Kashmir. The Pakistani prime minister, Imran Khan, immediately called a meeting of Pakistan’s National Command Authority and ordered a no-fly zone over the country, later commenting that given “the weapons they (India) have and we have, can we afford a miscalculation?” The two events may seem unconnected, but it is highly likely that this has reaffirmed to Kim why he needs nuclear weapons. Remaining a de facto nuclear state is key to Kim ensuring his regime’s survival. Nuclear capability is certainly not something he will readily concede. It is also doubtful whether Trump truly wants to pay too much attention to North Korea’s denuclearisation and economic development. It’s more likely that Trump is using his summits with Kim to strengthen his own domestic standing. Trump announced he was shelving an earlier second summit last year so he could focus on the mid-term elections – a ploy, perhaps, to attract more votes. And it’s perfectly possible now that he’s using the Hanoi summit to distract people from his ongoing scandals at home. Again, on the day Trump met Kim, Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, was giving highly critical testimony to Congress about his dealings with Trump. And so South Korean president Moon Jae-in seems stuck between North Korea and the US – neither of whom seem entirely committed to their summit’s success. Meanwhile, Moon will face growing domestic criticism from conservatives at home over his growing IKCF budget – and the ongoing lack of results. There is still hope for the Korean peninsula, but it is dwindling. And if Moon is to survive, and South Korea is to benefit, he will have to find novel ways of getting Kim and Trump back to the negotiating table. It will be no easy task. (Sojin Lim is Senior Lecturer, Deputy Director of the International Institute of Korean Studies, University of Central Lancashire) (This article was originally published on the Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

What does the failure of North Korea-US summit mean for Korean peninsula

Trump: North Korea demanded too much in talks

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he fully backed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-deal-with-kim-thwarted-by-north-korean-sanction-demands-200231">US President Donald Trump`s decision</a> to end his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement.&nbsp;

"I fully support President Trump`s decision not to make the easy choice," Abe said following a telephone call with Trump.

"I am determined that I must meet Chairman Kim next," he added, reiterating his desire to have a summit with the North Korean leader.

Abe said Trump, at his meeting with Kim in Vietnam, had raised the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Koreans agents.&nbsp;

Abe has said Japan would not normalise diplomatic ties with Pyongyang or provide economic assistance until North Korea gave a full accounting of all those taken and return any abductees who are still alive.&nbsp;

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he fully backed US President Donald Trump`s decision to end his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he fully backed US President Donald Trump`s decision to end his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement. "I fully support President Trump`s decision not to make the easy choice," Abe said following a telephone call with Trump. "I am determined that I must meet Chairman Kim next," he added, reiterating his desire to have a summit with the North Korean leader. Abe said Trump, at his meeting with Kim in Vietnam, had raised the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Koreans agents. Abe has said Japan would not normalise diplomatic ties with Pyongyang or provide economic assistance until North Korea gave a full accounting of all those taken and return any abductees who are still alive.

Japanese PM Abe says fully backs Trump over North Korea no deal

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will begin a two-day official visit to Vietnam on Friday, Vietnam`s foreign ministry said in a statement shortly after Kim`s second summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi ended without agreement.

Trump said on Thursday he had walked away from a nuclear deal at the summit with Kim in the Vietnamese capital because of unacceptable North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions.

While Trump left Hanoi later to return to Washington, Kim is staying on in Vietnam, for a two-day official visit.

Kim will meet President Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also general secretary of Vietnam`s ruling Communist Party, on Friday afternoon, according to a copy of Kim`s schedule seen by Reuters.

He is then due to attend a state banquet at a convention centre in central Hanoi in the evening.

On Saturday, Kim will lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Vietnam`s founding president, Ho Chi Minh, and meet Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, before leaving Vietnam that evening.

Kim arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday, after travelling from North Korea by train.

Media has reported his train was scheduled to leave the Vietnamese border station of Dong Dang, where he arrived, at 6.30 p.m. (1130 GMT) on Saturday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will begin a two-day official visit to Vietnam on Friday, Vietnam`s foreign ministry said in a statement shortly after Kim`s second summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi ended without agreement.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will begin a two-day official visit to Vietnam on Friday, Vietnam`s foreign ministry said in a statement shortly after Kim`s second summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi ended without agreement. Trump said on Thursday he had walked away from a nuclear deal at the summit with Kim in the Vietnamese capital because of unacceptable North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions. While Trump left Hanoi later to return to Washington, Kim is staying on in Vietnam, for a two-day official visit. Kim will meet President Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also general secretary of Vietnam`s ruling Communist Party, on Friday afternoon, according to a copy of Kim`s schedule seen by Reuters. He is then due to attend a state banquet at a convention centre in central Hanoi in the evening. On Saturday, Kim will lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Vietnam`s founding president, Ho Chi Minh, and meet Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, before leaving Vietnam that evening. Kim arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday, after travelling from North Korea by train. Media has reported his train was scheduled to leave the Vietnamese border station of Dong Dang, where he arrived, at 6.30 p.m. (1130 GMT) on Saturday.

North Korea's Kim on official Vietnam visit March 1-2: Ministry

South Korea's presidential office expressed regret after the summit between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-deal-with-kim-thwarted-by-north-korean-sanction-demands-200231">US President Donald Trump </a>and North Korea's Kim Jong Un ended without a deal but said "meaningful progress" had been made.

"It is regrettable President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not reach a complete agreement on today's summit," Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a statement.

"But it appears clear that more meaningful progress was made than at any other point in the past."

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had failed to reach an agreement due to North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions.

Earlier, both Trump and Kim had expressed hope for progress on improving relations and on the key issue of denuclearisation, in their talks in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, their second summit in eight months.

Both leaders left the venue of their talks, the French-colonial-era Metropole hotel, without attending a planned lunch together, and returned to their hotels.

Failure to reach an agreement marks a setback for Trump, a self-styled dealmaker under pressure at home over his ties to Russia and testimony from Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer, accusing him of breaking the law while in office.

South Korea's presidential office expressed regret after the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un ended without a deal but said "meaningful progress" had been made.

South Korea's presidential office expressed regret after the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un ended without a deal but said "meaningful progress" had been made. "It is regrettable President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not reach a complete agreement on today's summit," Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a statement. "But it appears clear that more meaningful progress was made than at any other point in the past." US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had failed to reach an agreement due to North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions. Earlier, both Trump and Kim had expressed hope for progress on improving relations and on the key issue of denuclearisation, in their talks in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, their second summit in eight months. Both leaders left the venue of their talks, the French-colonial-era Metropole hotel, without attending a planned lunch together, and returned to their hotels. Failure to reach an agreement marks a setback for Trump, a self-styled dealmaker under pressure at home over his ties to Russia and testimony from Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer, accusing him of breaking the law while in office.

North Korea summit outcome 'regrettable' but progress made: Seoul

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