Two D.P.R.K. Test Firings Include Short-Range Missile, and U.S. Secretary of State

April 18, 2018 (EIRNS)—The North Korean news agency KCNA reported that the government test-fired a guided missile, which appears to be a short-range, non-ballistic type, and thus not to violate Kim Jong Un’s pledge of a ballistic missile testing moratorium. KCNA quoted Kim on the firing: “The development of the weapon system serves as an event of very weighty significance in increasing the combat power of the People’s Army.”

At the same time the D.P.R.K. also test-fired U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “Whenever Pompeo pokes his nose in, talks between the two countries go wrong without any results even from the point close to success,” KCNA quoted Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the Foreign Ministry’s department for American affairs, speaking to the first session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly. “I am afraid that, if Pompeo engages in the talks again, the table will be lousy once again and the talks will become entangled,” he said. “Therefore, even in the case of a possible resumption of the dialogue with the U.S., I wish our dialogue counterpart would be not Pompeo but someone who is more careful and mature in communicating with us.”

Kwon filled out the picture with remarks on relations between President Trump and Kim, making it obvious the above on Pompeo came from the top: “It is fortunate that the personal relationship between our Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and President Trump is on good terms as usual, and our Chairman is pleased to get on well with President Trump.”