ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS

North Korea hints talks with U.S. could be halted and missile, nuclear tests restarted if military exercises go ahead

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, on June 30. | REUTERS

By Jesse Johnson
Staff Writer

Jul 16, 2019

North Korea hinted Tuesday that long-stalled working-level denuclearization talks with the United States due to be restarted soon could be halted and nuclear and missile tests restarted if the U.S. goes ahead with planned joint military exercises with South Korea.

In a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, a spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry said that if the 19-2 Dong Maeng exercise slated for next month is held, "it will affect DPRK-U.S. working-level talks."

"We will formulate our decision on the opening of the DPRK-U.S. working-level talks, while keeping watch over the U.S. move hereafter," the spokesman added.

North Korea hints talks with U.S. could be halted and missile, nuclear tests restarted if military exercises go ahead

In your social network

In your inbox

In your social network

In your inbox