US focuses on ‘denuclearisation’ of North Korea as ICBMs loom

White House, top diplomat Blinken, focus on diplomacy and denuclearisation to address ‘core security concern’ North Korea.

North Korea might begin flight testing an improved design for its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) “in the near future”, the head of the US military’s Northern Command said on Tuesday, a move that would sharply increase tensions between Pyongyang and Washington. “The North Korean regime has also indicated that it is no longer bound by the unilateral nuclear and ICBM testing moratorium announced in 2018, suggesting that Kim Jong Un may begin flight testing an improved ICBM design in the near future,” Air Force General Glen VanHerck said in written testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. The comments appeared based on North Korea’s October unveiling at a parade of what would be its largest ICBM yet, and not specific intelligence about an imminent launch.