Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet in Russia later this month, the Kremlin announced Thursday.
FILE - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, along with two military officials, observes a Korean People's Air Force training flight, on April 16, 2019.
The use of the word "tactical" to describe the combat systems could indicate they are short range, and not previously tested missiles which could potentially carry nuclear warheads to U.S. territory.
Both the demand for Pompeo's removal from the talks and the weapon test point to North Korea's displeasure with the deadlocked negotiations.
The North's official KCNA news agency said foreign ministry official Kwon Jong Gun made the comment about Pompeo.
"Kim is trying to make a statement to the Trump administration that his military potential is growing by the day", said Harry Kazianis, an analyst at the Center for the National Interest. "I'd love to see that done sooner", he added.
KCNA said that Kwon, who heads USA affairs, said the Vietnam meeting showed that talks could go wrong when Pompeo takes part.
A man watches a TV news program reporting about North Korea's test-fire of a "new-type tactical guided weapon", with a footage of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim was quoted as saying that "the development of the weapon system serves as an event of very weighty significance in increasing the combat power of the People's Army".
The test was conducted by North Korea's Academy of Defence Science.
The release came amidst an apparent stalemate of diplomatic discussions and an apparent retesting of missile technology by the North Koreans. The state news outlet described the project as a "tactical guided weapon" carrying a "powerful warhead", but stopped short of calling it a missile. Another possible clue of what was sacked: One of the lower level officials mentioned in the North's report on the test - Pak Jong Chon - is known as an artillery official.
Instead, the North has carried out smaller provocations.
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About 100 kilometres north of Pyongyang, Yongbyon is home to the country's first nuclear reactor and is the only known source of plutonium for the North's weapons programme.
They will hold talks in Russian Federation towards the end of April, according to the Kremlin. The meeting will be the first of its kind between the two leaders.
He also denounced Pompeo's testimony to Congress earlier this month in which, pressed by a senator concerned over what human rights groups say are rampant abuses in North Korea, agreed that Kim was a "tyrant".
"Pompeo is not frozen out as long as Trump wants him to do the job, and the North Koreans have to live with that", Yun added. There have been fresh reports of new activity at a North Korean missile research center and long-range rocket site where the North is believed to build missiles targeting the USA mainland.
Kim's visit to the testing site came after he visited the North Korean Air and Anti-aircraft Force on Tuesday.
Earlier in the week, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a USA monitoring organization, said activity had been detected at Yongbyon, the North's main nuclear testing facility.
During the Soviet era, Moscow maintained close ties with Pyongyang, including providing weapons for the North Korean military.
No other details were given, including if it was a type of missile.
"I agree with Kim Jong-Un of North Korea that our personal relationship remains very good, perhaps the term excellent would be even more accurate, and that a third Summit would be good in that we fully understand where we each stand", he tweeted.
North Korea has launched a test of a "new tactical guided weapon", the Associated Press reported Wednesday. Sanctions against the North over its nuclear and missile programs remain in place.
Kim Jong Un promised North Korea would halt nuclear and Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) tests with the capability to hit the U.S. mainland.
Washington says it won't allow the North's desired sanctions relief until the nation commits to verifiably relinquishing his nuclear facilities, weapons and missiles.
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