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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 6 augusT 2019

Putin urges arms talks with US after nuclear pact demise

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV over a false launch alert.
Associated Press “If we receive reliable in-
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian formation that the U.S. has
President Vladimir Putin completed the develop-
said Monday that Russia will ment and launched pro-
only deploy new intermedi- duction of the relevant
ate-range missiles if the U.S. systems, Russia will have to
does, following the demise engage in full-scale devel-
of a key nuclear pact, and opment of similar missiles,”
called for urgent arms con- Putin said.
trol talks to prevent a cha- The U.S. has accused Rus-
otic arms race. sia of developing and de-
Putin issued his statement ploying a cruise missile that
after the 1987 Intermedi- violated provisions of the
ate-Range Nuclear Forces pact. Russia has denied the
Treaty came to an end Fri- breach, and, in its turn, ac-
day with the U.S. announc- cused the U.S. of violations.
ing its intention to test and Putin noted that Russia for
deploy weapons previ- now will rely on its existing
ously banned by the treaty. air-launched X-101 and Kin-
Washington said its with- zhal missiles and the Kalibr
drawal had been caused missiles carried by subma-
by Russian violations of the Russian President Vladimir Putin listens during a meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, rines and navy ships, as well
pact, the claim that Russia Aug. 2, 2019. as prospective weapons,
has denied. Associated Press including the Zircon hyper-
Putin condemned the U.S. He said in a statement that signed by U.S. President to 3,410 miles). Such weap- sonic missiles, to ensure its
exit from the treaty “in a Russia will carefully monitor Ronald Reagan and Soviet ons were seen as particu- security.
unilateral way and under a Washington’s actions and leader Mikhail Gorbachev, larly destabilizing because He also reaffirmed Mos-
far-fetched reason,” saying respond in kind if it sees that banned the production, of shorter time they take to cow’s earlier pledge not to
that it “seriously exacerbat- the U.S. is developing and testing and deployment of reach targets compared deploy intermediate-range
ed the situation in the world deploying new intermedi- land-based cruise and bal- to intercontinental ballistic weapons until the U.S.
and raised fundamental ate-range missiles. listic missiles with a range of missiles, raising the likeli- places them near Russia’s
risks for all.” The INF Treaty, which was 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 hood of a nuclear conflict borders.q

US, South Korea prepare military drills despite North’s ire

By KIM TONG-HYUNG time operational control Korea drills it sees as an in-
Associated Press of its troops from Washing- vasion rehearsal and also
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — ton. She did not confirm or the slow pace of nuclear
South Korea and the Unit- deny reports that the drills, negotiations with the Unit-
ed States are preparing to which are expected to be ed States. North Korea had
hold their annual joint mili- computer simulated and said it will wait to see if the
tary exercises despite warn- not involve actual combat August exercises actually
ings from North Korea that troops and equipment, be- take place to decide on
the drills could derail fragile gan on Monday. the fate of its diplomacy
nuclear diplomacy, Seoul’s North Korea recently has with the United States and
military said Monday. been ramping up its weap- also whether to continue
Choi Hyun-soo, spokes- ons tests, including two test its unilateral suspension of
woman of Seoul’s Defense firings of what it described nuclear and long-range
Ministry, said the exercises as a new rocket artillery missile tests, which leader
will be focused on verify- system last week, while ex- Kim Jong Un announced Protesters hold up placards to oppose planned joint military
exercises between South Korea and the United States near the
ing Seoul’s capabilities for pressing frustration over the last year amid a diplomatic U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 5, 2019.
its planned retaking of war- continuance of U.S.-South outreach to Washington.q Associated Press