US President Welcomes North Korea's Plans To Dismantle Nuclear Test Site

US President Donald Trump has hailed North Korea's announcement that it will dismantle its nuclear test site in less than two weeks as a "gracious gesture".

The move comes ahead of leader Kim Jong Un's summit with Mr Trump next month.

In a statement carried by state media, the country's foreign ministry said all of the tunnels at the testing ground in the North-East would be destroyed by an explosion, and that observation and research facilities and ground-based guard units would also be removed.

North Korea said it planned to invite journalists from the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and Britain to inspect the process.

Kim Jong Un had revealed plans to shut down the nuclear test site during his summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in last month.

Analysts say that while the closure of the site is important, it does not represent a material step toward full denuclearisation.

President Trump, in a tweet on Saturday, thanked North Korea for its plan to dismantle the nuclear test site, calling it "a very smart and gracious gesture".

"A ceremony for dismantling the nuclear test ground is now scheduled between May 23 and 25," depending on weather, the Foreign Ministry's statement said, adding that journalists from the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and Britain will be invited to witness the dismantling.

The ministry said the North will continue to "promote close contacts and dialogue with the neighbouring countries and the international society so as to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and over the globe."

The North's announcement came days after Washington announced that the historic summit between Kim and Trump would be held on June 12 in Singapore.

Seoul, which shuttled between Washington and Pyongyang to set up the Trump-Kim meeting, has said Kim has a genuine interest in dealing away his nuclear weapons in return for economic benefits.

However, there are lingering doubts about whether Kim would ever agree to fully relinquish the weapons he probably views as his only guarantee of survival.

The North has been vowing to pursue nuclear development unless Washington removes its 28,500 troops from South Korea and the nuclear umbrella defending South Korea and Japan.

Some experts believe Mr Kim may try to drag out the process or seek a deal in which he gives away his Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) but retains some of his shorter-range arsenal, in return for a reduced US military presence in the South.

This could satisfy President Trump but undermine the alliance between Washington and Seoul.

Mr Kim declared his nuclear force complete in December, following North Korea's most powerful nuclear test to date in September and three flight tests of ICBMs designed to reach the US mainland.

North Korea announced at a ruling party meeting last month that it was suspending all tests of nuclear devices and ICBMs, as well as the plan to close the nuclear testing ground.

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