N.Korea threatens to walk away from US summit
Pyongyang, May 24: North Korea will reconsider the planned summit with the US if Washington sticks to "unlawful and outrageous acts," Pyongyang's Vice Foreign Minister said on Thursday.
In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Choe Son-hui said that whether the June 12 summit between its leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump will happen as scheduled entirely rests on the decision and behaviour of Washington, reports Yonhap News Agency.
"Whether the US will meet us at a meeting room or encounter us at nuclear-to-nuclear showdown is entirely dependent upon the decision and behaviour of the US," Choe said.
"In case the US offends against our goodwill and clings to unlawful and outrageous acts, I will put forward a suggestion to our supreme leadership for reconsidering the summit," she added.
The threat came after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Trump held a summit in Washington on Tuesday where the latter suggested the summit with the North might not take place on June 12.
North Korea has ramped up criticism of the US for forcing "unilateral" denuclearisation.
The Trump administration maintains that it seeks the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear programme, with no promise of concessions until that process is in motion.
The North reportedly wants a phased and synchronous approach.
Choe singled out US Vice President Mike Pence and slammed him for mentioning a Libya-style approach and military option against the North in a recent media interview.
"US Vice-President Pence has made unbridled and impudent remarks that North Korea might end like Libya, military option for North Korea never came off the table, the US needs complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation, and so on," she said.
"As a person involved in the US affairs, I cannot suppress my surprise at such ignorant and stupid remarks gushing out from the mouth of the US Vice-President."
Pyongyang last week suspended its contacts with Seoul and altered the cordial tone used in recent months with South Korea and the US.
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Bihar CM hands over Rs 1 cr cheque to cricketer Ishan Kishan for T20 world cup heroics
Patna (PTI): Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore to cricketer Ishan Kishan for his contribution in winning the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Kishan, who has his roots in Nawada district of the state and had spent his early childhood in Patna, called on the chief minister at his office.
The 27-year-old wicket-keeper batsman received a warm welcome from Choudhary, who placed a stole around Kishan's neck and presented him with a memento before handing over the cheque.
“Member of the Indian cricket team which won the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the brilliant batsman, the son of Bihar, Shri @ishankishan51 Ji, was honoured by the state government with a cash prize of Rs 1 crore for his crucial contribution in winning the World Cup,” Choudhary said in a post on X.
Top officials, including Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit and close relatives of Kishan, were also present on the occasion.
