Moon warns of crisis if N Korea resumes long-range missile tests | Al Jazeera

The Korean peninsula would be plunged “instantly” into crisis if North Korea resumed testing of nuclear or long-range missiles, outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in said, calling for dialogue and diplomacy to prevent that from happening.

January was a record month for North Korean missile testing with leader Kim Jong Un hinting he could order new nuclear tests or intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches for the first time since 2017.

“If North Korea’s repeated missile launches go as far as to breach (Kim’s self-imposed) moratorium, that would instantly bring the Korean Peninsula back to the crisis situation of five years ago when there were concerns of war,” Moon said in written comments provided to a number of media outlets in Seoul on Thursday. “The political leaders of related nations should engage in persistent dialogue and diplomacy to prevent a similar crisis.”