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South Korea’ President Moon says North Korea nuclear arsenal too developed to be quickly dismantled

North Korea nuclear arsenal too developed to destroy quickly, says Moon,   Christine Kim, 14 Nov 17,  SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday it would not be easy for reclusive North Korea to destroy its nuclear arsenal quickly, even if wanted to, given its weapons programs were so developed. North Korea is under heavy international pressure to end its weapons programs, pursued in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. But it has vowed never to give up its nuclear arsenal.

Speaking to reporters in the Philippines, Moon said that if North Korea agreed to hold talks, negotiations could be held with all options open.

“If so, North Korea’s nuclear program should be suspended, and negotiations could go on to pursue complete denuclearization.”…….

The North defends the programs as a necessary defense against U.S. plans to invade. The United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war, denies any such intention.

U.S. President Donald Trump has traded insults and threats with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as North Korea races toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the United States.

Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address to “totally destroy” North Korea if the United States was threatened and has said the time for talking, the policy of previous U.S. administrations, is over.

Moon reiterated his stance that now was the time to increase pressure on North Korea so that it would come to talks……..

He said differences in understanding between South Korea and China, North Korea’s lone major ally, regarding the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on South Koran soil had not been resolved.

“China has not said it has changed its stance to agree to THAAD and still says THAAD infringes on its security…… http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-southkorea/north-korea-nuclear-arsenal-too-developed-to-destroy-quickly-says-moon-idUSKBN1DE1BY

November 15, 2017 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | North Korea, politics international, South Korea