SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's announcement on Friday that he will suspend nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches was likely a move to ensure his upcoming talks with U.S. President Donald Trump are a success and demonstrate that he can be seen as having taken a step toward denuclearization.
A report adopted by North Korea included the suspension of ICBM launches, among other matters, but did not refer to short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, which have the capability to hit Japan and South Korea.
U.S., South Korean forces and other entities believe nuclear warheads could be loaded onto these shorter-range ballistic missiles.
A diplomatic source said, "By only announcing the suspension of launches of ICBMs that could hit the United States, [North Korea] seems to be attempting to obtain concessions from the United States."
The Trump administration has adopted a clear stance of not allowing North Korea to complete its development of ICBMs that could carry nuclear warheads to the United States.
Kim declared the completion of a "nuclear force" after launching a new type of ICBM in November. But the United States and South Korea, among others, believed North Korea would need to make additional launches if it were to achieve completion due to its unverified atmospheric reentry technology.
Now that North Korea has said it will not launch ICBMs, it appears unlikely that it will complete its development of ballistic missiles that could actually hit the United States, albeit for the time being.
By announcing the suspension of its ICBM launches ahead of a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae In on Friday, and also another upcoming summit with Trump, Kim is likely trying to create a favorable situation for future negotiations.
At a plenary session of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on Friday, believed to have been attended by about 270 people including party executives, Kim, the chairman of the ruling party, touched on a declaration he made on the completion of a nuclear force after launching a new type of ICBM in November last year.
"The overall situation is rapidly changing ... after the declaration of completing the state nuclear force last year," he said.
Kim was apparently aiming to justify his policy of simultaneously pushing forward with developing its economy and a nuclear force. He was also likely implying that the upcoming dialogue with the United States -- which North Korea has regarded as an enemy -- came about because North Korea completed its nuclear development.
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