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Pyongyang’s new weapon testing demonstrates N.Korea’s call for dialog with US, expert says

Earlier, it was reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had attended the test launch of a new tactical guided weapon

© AP Photo/Lee Jin-man

MOSCOW, April 18. /TASS/. Pyongyang’s new tactical weapon testing can be qualified as a move to invite the United States for a dialogue, Director of the Center for Russia’s Asian Strategy at the Economy Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Georgy Toloraya told TASS on Thursday.

North Korea’s Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had attended the test launch of a new tactical guided weapon. Yonhap news agency later suggested, citing South Korean military experts, that North Korea had tested new tactical low-altitude missiles.

"The testing of some mysterious tactical weapon at the same proving ground of the country’s Academy of Defense Sciences [the first test of the newest tactical weapon system was conducted in November 2018] is a clear signal for Washington that Pyongyang is not satisfied with the state of the dialogue and the US positions as a whole," the expert noted.

Read also

North Korean leader attends trials of new tactical guided weapon — KCNA

"By doing so, the North Korean side demands greater flexibility from the United States, if it does not want a return to confrontation," he pointed out.

Besides, North Korea’s demand to replace US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula evidences an attempt to "cause a disarray in the team of US President Donald Trump and drive a wedge between the US leader and his subordinates," the expert believes.

According to the expert, the US is after all "disposed to continue the dialogue," although it understands that "this won’t bring quick results" and Washington "won’t get immediately a full declaration of nuclear programs" from Pyongyang.

"At best, this will happen stage by stage," the expert said.

"The United States understands that it will have to ease sanctions eventually. However, publicly, they declare that this state of affairs does not suit them but there is simply no other way at the moment," the expert explained.

"That is why, North Korea’s current moves can be qualified as an invitation to a dialogue rather than a refusal to hold it," the expert said.

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