S. Korea’s Moon lauds North’s test halt as ‘significant’
South Korean President Moon Jae-in on 23 April praised the declaration of a moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests by the North’s leader Kim Jong Un, days before a summit between the two men.
Pyongyang’s move was ‘a significant decision towards total denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula’, Moon said in a meeting with aides.
Kim declared that Pyongyang had no further need for nuclear tests or intercontinental ballistic missile launches, and no further use for its atomic test site, the North announced in the week that ended on 20 April.
The statement was immediately welcomed by US President Donald Trump, who is expected to hold a summit of his own with Kim soon.
But analysts warned that Pyongyang had made no commitment to give up its nuclear arsenal.
Moon said on 23 April that the North’s move was ‘a green light that improves the prospect of success of the inter-Korea and North-US summits’.
‘If the North takes a step towards denuclearisation, starting from nuclear moratorium, it could guarantee a bright future,’ he added.
The latest step, he said, ‘raises hopes that the pace will accelerate’.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Eurosatory 2026: New public security needs drive personal protection equipment modernisation]()
Eurosatory 2026: New public security needs drive personal protection equipment modernisation
European law enforcement and public security agencies are entering a new cycle of investment in personal protection equipment (PPE), driven by evolving threat profiles, officer welfare requirements and advances in materials technology.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO’s eastern flank]()
Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO’s eastern flank
Autonomous systems developer Milrem has evolved a model for an interoperable robotised approach to the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI), showing how uncrewed systems could provide a multi-layered defence architecture in the air and on land along NATO’s eastern borders.
-
![Eurosatory 2026 to highlight changing defence and security priorities]()
Eurosatory 2026 to highlight changing defence and security priorities
Eurosatory 2026 will reflect a defence and security sector shaped by conflict, rising government spending, uncrewed systems, multidomain networks and growing demand for sovereign capabilities.
-
![Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP]()
Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP
The UK defence secretary’s departure suggests that the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan is unlikely to meet the funding demands of the armed forces, with consequences for procurement and the UK’s standing at a NATO summit weeks away.
