North Korea announced that Kim Jong Un supervised the test of a new weapons system Saturday, which occurred just hours after President Trump boasted that he received a “really beautiful letter” from Kim.
Trump tweeted that the letter contained a “small apology” from Kim about the short-range missile testing and that the North Korean leader wanted to meet in the “not too distant future” to restart negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, once the U.S. ceased conducting joint military exercises with South Korea.
“In a letter to me sent by Kim Jong Un, he stated, very nicely, that he would like to meet and start negotiations as soon as the joint U.S./South Korea joint exercise are [sic] over,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “It was a long letter, much of it complaining about the ridiculous and expensive exercises.”
“It was also a small apology for testing the short range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un in the not too distant future! A nuclear free North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world!” Trump added.
….also a small apology for testing the short range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un in the not too distant future! A nuclear free North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2019
According to the Associated Press, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry also bashed South Korea for continuing to perform military drills with the U.S. North Korea also said that any future talks would be held only between Pyongyang and Washington, and that South Korea would be excluded from any negotiations.
The Associated Press also reported that Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with the new weapons system. Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency claimed that the system was executed as planned.
Several pictures purporting to show Kim observing the launch were circulated by the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper. Photos depicting a missile being launched from the station were also shown.
It was not immediately known if the missiles were ballistic or rocket artillery, but the North Korean agency said they were designed for the terrain of the country and to supply “advantageous tactical character different from existing weapons systems.”
The South Korean military said the weapons appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles that traveled some 248 miles off its eastern coast before landing in the middle of the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan.
The missile launches marked the fifth such occurrence in less than three weeks by North Korea. Many military analysts suggest the frequent launches are a result of continued joint exercises between the U.S. and South Korea.
Trump downplayed the launches as “very standard” last week, which some experts believe has given Kim leverage before talks between Washington and Pyongyang resume.
