North Korea threatens to cancel Trump summit

Kim and Trump are scheduled to  meet in Singapore on June 12.

As per a CNN news report, a statement published by the state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said North Korea would never accept economic assistance from the US in exchange for unilaterally abandoning its nuclear program.

CNN reported that Kim Kye Gwan, North Korea's First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was quoted in the article as saying that the US has said "it would offer economic compensation and benefit in case we abandon (nuclear weapons)."

"We have never had any expectation of US support in carrying out our economic construction and will not... make such a deal in future," he added.

He said the US will get 'deserving response' if it is "genuinely committed" to improving ties with Pyongyang.

"But if they try to push us into a corner and force only unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will no longer be interested in that kind of talks and will have to reconsider...the upcoming summit," he said,

North Korea cancels talks with South Korea:

Meanwhile, North Korea has cancelled its high-level talks with South Korea, which was planned to take place on Wednesday.

The country has cited ongoing military exercises between the South and the United States as the reason behind cancelling the meet.

"The North's Korean Central News Agency said the Max Thunder drills between the South Korean and U.S. air forces are a rehearsal for invasion of the North and a provocation amid warming inter-Korean ties," reported South Korea's Yonhap News agency.

Improvement in relationship in recent times:

Relationship between South and North Korea seemed to have improved in recent times with Kim Jong un meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Panmunjom peace village on Apr 27.

The neighbouring leaders shaking hands over the Military Demarcation Line grabbed attention all over the world.

US, Trump and North Korea:

2017 witnessed US President Donald Trump slamming North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as the Asian nation continued to conduct several of its missile tests, teasing world peace and tranquillity and often threatening to trigger a war.

Situation became far tensed when North Korea tested an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) that it said was capable of striking US mainland.

The United Nations Security Council imposed strong new sanctions against the Asian nation after its Nov 29 launch of a nuclear-capable weapon.

Trump and North Korea continued to exchange barbs earlier this year too.

Fresh development in the relationship between North Korea, South Korea and the US began recently when a North Korean delegation was invited to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Trump and Kim agreed to meet on June 12, signalling improved relationship between the two nations.

Three United States nationals were also released by North Korea this month.

The move was appreciated by the United Nations.

The release of three United States nationals by North Korea is “another important building block” towards peace, said a United Nations human rights expert on Thursday, while urging the release of six South Korean nationals who are still being held.

In a statement reacting to the release of the US citizens, Tomás Ojea Quintana, the UN expert on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said that he had “consistently advocated for the release of these foreign detainees, who were reportedly under arbitrary detention and prevented from enjoying their basic freedoms.”

“I welcome this important decision of the DPRK Government,” the Special Rapporteur continued, “which I hope will offer an opportunity to further address human rights and humanitarian concerns,” he added.

Kim Sang-duk, known as “Tony Kim”, Kim Hak Song and Kim Dong-chul were among several foreign nationals arrested in recent years in the country.