North Korea suspends nuclear and long-range missile testing, says Kim Jong-un

North Korea has announced that the nation will be suspending nuclear and long-range missile tests.

The nation, led by Kim Jong-un, also publicly announced plans to close its nuclear test site.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said the suspension of nuclear and ICBM tests went into effect on Saturday.

The country says it is making the move to shift its national focus and improve its economy.

Leader Kim Jong-un declared the nation’s nuclear force as complete in November after a slew of weapons tests that included the underground detonation of a purported thermonuclear warhead.

North Korea had also carried out flight tests of three intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Some analysts believe Mr Kim is entering the negotiations from a position of strength and is unlikely to accept a significant cut of his arsenal or go significantly beyond freezing a nuclear program.

South Korean and US officials have said Mr Kim is likely trying to save his broken economy from heavy sanctions.

North Korea’s nuclear announcements came days before leader Kim Jong-un is set to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a border truce village for a rare summit aimed at resolving the nuclear stand-off with Pyongyang.

The North’s decisions were made in a meeting of the ruling party’s full Central Committee which had convened to discuss a ‘new stage’ of policies.

South Korea’s presidential office has welcomed North Korea’s suspension of nuclear and long-range missile tests as ‘meaningful progress’ toward the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

Presidential official Yoon Young-chan said in a statement that the announcement will brighten the prospects for successful talks between Seoul, Pyongyang and Washington.