By Yoon Sojung

Cheong Wa Dae has expressed its welcome of Pyeongyang’s decision to stop its missile tests and to close its nuclear facilities.

In a statement by Presidential Senior Secretary for Public Relations Yoon Young-chan on April 21, Cheong Wa Dae said that, “We welcome North Korea’s decision to shut down its nuclear test sites and to stop long and medium-range missile test firings.”

“The decision represents meaningful progress on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, for which the world has been longing,” said Presidential Senior Secretary for Public Relations Yoon.

“This will contribute to creating a very positive environment for the success of the upcoming 2018 Inter-Korean Summit and the summit between North Korea and the U.S.,” said the statement.

“We will do our utmost to prepare for the summit so that it can lead the way toward denuclearization and toward the permanent establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

Earlier, Pyeongyang claimed that it would suspend its nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and shut down the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, and concentrate on economic reconstruction, according to a report on April 21 by North Korea's official news agency, the Korean Central News Agency. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, which was presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on April 20.

arete@korea.kr