The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) unexpectedly held a press conference at 12:00 hours on February 28.

Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho told reporters that DPRK offered to permanently halt long range rocket tests, as well as nuclear tests during the summit between Chairman Kim and President Trump. The foreign minister said the DPRK had offered “realistic proposals” but the US wanted more, and the two sides couldn’t reconcile their differences. According to Ri, North Korea had attempted to get the US to lift five sanction articles adopted in 2016 and 2017 under 11 United Nations Security Council resolutions in exchange for DPRK’s “completely and permanent dismantling all nuclear material production facilities in the Yongbyon area, including plutonium and uranium” under the supervision of experts from both countries. According to the diplomat, the US side was insistent on DPRK moving “one more step” besides the shutting down of the Yongbyon plant, the country’s main nuclear facility. Earlier, the DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit Vietnam ended earlier than expected and the two leaders of the DPRK and the US did not reach any agreement.-VNA