North Korea is expected to soften air space restrictions and provide more access to foreign media than it has in decades in order to demonstrate it is dismantling nuclear testing ahead of diplomatic talks.
The country on Saturday confirmed it will invite reporters from the U.S., South Korea and other countries to “ensure transparency of discontinuance of the nuclear test,” according to state media and reported by Reuters.
To bring in the foreign reporters, North Korea will be “opening territorial air space” May 23-25 to fly them in through China. Upon landing in the city of Wonsan, the guests will board a train to the facility said to be housed in an “uninhabited deep mountain area” near Mount Mantap.
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North Korea’s announcement comes the day after President Trump gave the official date and location for his historic summit with the country’s ruler Kim Jong Un. The meeting is set for June 12 in Singapore.
Kim announced last month that the reclusive nation would suspend its nuclear tests in advance of a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Kim has reportedly expressed his willingness to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, which would also require concessions from South Korea and the U.S.
After a preparatory meeting with Kim this week ahead of the Trump summit, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that full denuclearization would require a “robust verification” by the U.S. and other countries.