N. Korea remains low key over anniversary of 'nuclear armament'

By Yi Whan-woo

North Korea took a low-key approach last week to the first anniversary of what it claimed was the country's completion of its nuclear armament.

Analysts and officials speculated that Pyongyang is trying to keep dialogue on course following leader Kim Jong-un's summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump this year.

On Nov. 29 last year, Kim's regime said it had completed the development of "the state nuclear force," after test-firing the "Hwasong-15" intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

It was believed to be capable of striking the continental U.S. and the announcement escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

A year later, however, there was no anniversary celebration.

The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper did not publish any articles on ICBMs and also refrained from criticizing the U.S.

Its front page was filled with economic stories while most of the other pages were also about the economy and technology.

The only article about the U.S. was a commentary criticizing the U.S. and South Korea for joining a United Nations resolution on Pyongyang's human rights record.

Only a propaganda website mentioned the November 2017 nuclear armament declaration.

"November's epochal event, which elevated the DPRK's strategic status higher, put a final end to the history of imperialist aggression and nuclear threats and enabled our people to focus all strength on building a socialist economy," it said.

It said the North's demonstration of its power led to sweeping changes in the situation on the Korean Peninsula, such as three inter-Korean summits and the first summit between the North and the U.S.

The outlet also said no sanctions or pressure on the North will work.

Pyongyang has not carried out any missile or nuclear tests since November last year.

Kim offered talks with South Korea in his New Year's address, and the South forged ahead with his charm offensive.

Meanwhile, denuclearization negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled as the North wants a reward from the U.S.

It wants sanctions relief for the steps it has taken so far, such as blowing up its nuclear testing site. But the U.S. wants Pyongyang to take more denuclearization measures.

The U.S. also has been stepping up pressure on the North over its human rights situation.

On Nov. 29, Trump blacklisted North Korea again for human trafficking and extended a symbolic ban on U.S. funding to the regime for another year.

The designation bans the U.S. government from providing "non-humanitarian, nontrade-related assistance" to those governments for fiscal year 2019, until they comply with the act's minimum standards or "make significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance" with the act.

In the case of North Korea, Eritrea, Russia and Syria, the U.S. will also not provide funding for participation in educational and cultural exchange programs by officials or employees of their governments.

In June, the U.S. State Department designated North Korea as one of the worst human trafficking nations for the 16th consecutive year, citing the regime's use of forced labor.