Apr 17, 2019 - World

Kim Jong-un directs test of new tactical guided weapon

North Korea's Kim Jong Un

Photo: Dien Bien/Getty Images

North Korea's Kim Jong-un oversaw the test of a new tactical guided weapon on Wednesday, reports Reuters.

"The completion of the development of the weapon system serves as an event of very weighty significance in increasing the combat power..."
— Kim told Korean Central News Agency, of his nation's military

Why it matters: This is North Korea's first weapons test since Kim and President Trump met in February for a second summit in Hanoi, resulting in no agreement between the 2 nations.

Details: State media did not specify if Wednesday's test was of a nuclear weapon, but "tactical" suggests it was a short-range weapon, per Reuters. The test comes after satellite images of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear site showed railcar activity on April 12.

  • Both Kim and Trump have hinted at the possibility of a third sit-down. The Trump administration has worked to maintain an "all or nothing" approach, in which sanctions on North Korea would only be lifted after full denuclearization.

Go deeper: Report: North Korea restoring missile launch site

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