North Korea willing to talk denuclearisation, U.S Officials confirm
Washington, April 9: North Korea has confirmed to the US that it is willing to negotiate about the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, clearing the way for a summit meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump, US officials said.
"The US has confirmed that Kim Jong-un is willing to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," said a senior administration official on Sunday. A second official also confirmed that Pyongyang representatives had delivered a direct message to Washington, the Wall Street Journal reported.
At the same time, US officials cautioned that Pyongyang offered no details about its negotiating position and noted that North Korea has violated past agreements during the George W. Bush administration to freeze its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.
It was unclear what kind of concessions the US would be willing to make to secure commitments from Pyongyang.
The unprecedented summit is slated to happen in May and will be the first time a sitting US President would meet the leader of North Korea. Preparations for the meeting included secret, direct talks with North Korea, Trump administration officials were cited as saying by the New York Times.
US and North Korean intelligence officials reportedly spoke many times and met in a third country.
Meanwhile, South and North Korea will also be holding a summit on April 27, the first meeting between the leaders of the two sides in 11 years.
Word of Kim's willingness to talk about denuclearisation came the day before John R. Bolton, who has made the legal case for a pre-emptive attack on North Korea, was to officially begin work as Trump's new National Security Adviser.
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K'taka govt, Taiwan's Allegiance Group sign MoU to establish industrial technology innovation park
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka government on Friday signed an MoU with Allegiance International Co Ltd of Taiwan to establish an Indo-Taiwan Industrial Technology Innovation Park (ITIP) in the state, with a proposed investment of around Rs 1,000 crore.
The MoU was signed by Rahul Sharanappa Sankanur, Director, Department of Electronics, IT, BT and Lawrence Chen, VP, Allegiance Group in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Minister for Electronics, IT & BT Priyank Kharge, and senior officials.
The project will be undertaken by the Allegiance Group with a proposed investment of around Rs 1,000 crore, leading to the creation of about 800 direct jobs via the companies setting up operations in ITIP over a period of 5 years, the IT&BT Minister's office said in a statement.
The ITIP will serve as a dedicated hub for Taiwanese companies in electronics and semiconductors, fostering advanced manufacturing, R&D, and innovation. This collaboration aims to strengthen Karnataka's position as India's leading destination for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) and accelerate the growth of the semiconductor ecosystem in the state.
Key highlights of the MoU include establishment of a world-class industrial park to house Taiwanese firms in electronics and semiconductor sectors; development of a robust supply chain ecosystem for components, PCBs, and chip design; creation of high-value jobs and skill development programmes in collaboration with academic institutions; and promotion of technology transfer and global best practices to enhance India's competitiveness in electronics manufacturing.
CM Siddaramaiah said this partnership marks a significant step towards realising Karnataka's vision of becoming a global hub for electronics and semiconductor innovation.
"The ITIP will attract cutting-edge technology and investments, creating opportunities for our youth and strengthening India's position in the global value chain," he said.
Minister Priyank Kharge said Karnataka has led India's technology revolution and continues to dominate in innovation, deep-tech talent, and semiconductor design.
"This partnership will accelerate our efforts to build a robust electronics and semiconductor ecosystem. We are committed to creating a level playing field and ensuring that Karnataka remains the preferred destination for global investors in advanced technologies," he said.
Lawrence Chen said, "We are excited to collaborate with Karnataka, a state known for its technology leadership. The ITIP will be a catalyst for Taiwanese companies to expand in India and contribute to the growth of the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem."
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