Pyongyang Suggests Lifting Self-Imposed Moratorium On ICBM, Nuclear Tests

News wires carry comments from North Korea's state media KCNA, who said that Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un has ordered ruling party Politburo to "promptly examine the issue of restarting all temporarily suspended activities." The message has been interpreted as referring to North Korea's self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests, which dates back to Kim's talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

• The meeting of North Korea's ruling party leadership was held on Wednesday, after the regime conducted four missile tests this month alone. The KCNA said that participants deplored the "hostile policy and military threat by the U.S." and pledged preparations for a "long-term confrontation." They noted that joint U.S.-South Korean military drills, the deployment of U.S. stategic weapons in the region, and fresh sanctions on the North Korean regime had "reached a danger line that cannot be overlooked anymore."