Director of the South Korean National Intelligence Service Kim Kye-hyun arrived on an informal visit to the United States amid fears of potential nuclear tests or other provocative actions by the DPRK. Reported on July 20 Yonhap News Agency.
It is noted that the head of intelligence was seen leaving Dulles International Airport on the outskirts of Washington, DC on Tuesday morning (local time).
According to the agency, Hyun is scheduled to meet with US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haynes and Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns.
The American side at the same time refused to confirm reports of the arrival of the head of South Korea’s national intelligence, citing the confidential nature of the information.
Earlier, on June 28, it was reported that the South Korean military began field exercises due to possible nuclear testing by North Korea. It was noted that Seoul is seeking to increase its military readiness.
Prior to this, on June 24, during a regular meeting of the ruling party, the leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un, stated the need to comprehensively strengthen the self-defense power of the North Korean army, which makes it possible to gain an absolute victory over any opponent.
Meanwhile, on June 13, during a briefing, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken noted that Washington is open to dialogue with the DPRK without preconditions, but is ready to continue to exert sanctions pressure on Pyongyang. The US is committed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining the stability of the region, he added.
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on June 7 that North Korea’s next attempt at nuclear testing will not go unnoticed by the world community. The set of countermeasures will include additional sanctions against Pyongyang, as well as measures to strengthen the defense capabilities of the United States and allies, she specified.
The day before it became known that the United States and South Korea conducted test missile launches as a response to the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea.
North Korea conducted its 18th missile test since the beginning of the year on June 5. North Korea fired eight short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan. The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced a missile launch from North Korea at 9:14 local time (3:14 Moscow time), after which an emergency meeting was convened in the Japanese government to collect information and confirm the damage.
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