Pyongyang re-launches talks with the US, followed by two more missiles

This morning’s is the tenth test of the year. According to analysts, Pyongyang aims to strengthen its position in view of the resumption of nuclear negotiations. For the North Korean government, the US had "enough time" to find the "calculation method" requested by Kim in April.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - This morning North Korea launched two short-range missiles from a western region to the Eastern Sea. The test took place a few hours after Pyongyang's first deputy foreign minister expressed willingness to resume talks with the United States on denuclearization at the end of September. Choe Son-hui also asked Washington to present a new proposal acceptable to the North Korean government.

This morning’s is the tenth launch of the year. So far, North Korea has tested new types of missiles or multiple rocket launchers as a protest against joint military exercises between the US and the South. The Joint Command (JCS) of the South Korean Armed Forces reports that Pyongyang fired rockets at 6.53 am and at 7.12 am from areas near the city of Kaechon, in the southern province of Pyongan - about 80 kilometers north of the capital. Both rockets flew about 330 km across the peninsula and crashed into the Eastern Sea. The CCS added that the South Korean and US intelligence authorities are trying to identify the exact type of missiles.

According to analysts, Pyongyang has scheduled the test to strengthen its position in view of the resumption of nuclear talks. Negotiations were interrupted last February, when the second summit between Donald J. Trump and Kim Jong-un in Hanoi (Vietnam) ended without an agreement. For the diplomats of the two countries they are hectic hours, after the Northern State agency published the statements of Choe Son-hui.

Pyongyang's first deputy foreign minister said the North had taken note of Washington's repeated calls to return to the negotiating table and announced: "We are willing to cooperate with the United States for in-depth discussions on the issues we have faced so far and in the place to be agreed at the end of September ".

Choe said she believed the United States had "enough time" to find the "calculation method" that Kim requested in a speech in April. "I believe the American side will come out with a proposal geared to the interests of the DPRK and the U.S. and based on decision methods acceptable to us," said Choe.

"If the US side - she added - fingers again the worn-out scenario which has nothing to do with new decision methods at the DPRK-U.S. working negotiation to be held with so much effort, the DPRK-U.S. dealings may come to an end."

Shortly thereafter, President Trump confirmed to journalists that he had read Choe's statement but had not given a definitive answer. "We will see what happens, but I always say that having talks is a positive thing, not a negative one," he told the White House.