Anchor: North Korea has announced that it is suspending its nuclear and missile tests from Saturday and shutting down a major nuclear test site, declaring a new policy line focused on the economy over nuclear development. 
Kim Soyon has more.

Report: North Korea has adopted a new strategic platform to dismantle its nuclear test site and focus all efforts on the economy.

The surprise announcement came during a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's central committee on Friday, presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

According to the decision adopted during the meeting, revealed by the state-run Korean Central News Agency(KCNA), the North will suspend nuclear tests and test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles(ICBM) starting Saturday and also shut down the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the northeastern province.  

The North said the decision is important in the path toward global nuclear disarmament, adding that Pyongyang will join international efforts to completely end all nuclear testing. 

The North said it will by no means use its nuclear weapons as long as there is no nuclear threat or provocation against the regime. It also vowed to never transfer nuclear weapons or technology under any circumstance.

The statement also noted that tasks related to the two-track policy of seeking both nuclear and economic development, adopted in 2013, have all been completed, and the new strategic guideline is to focus all efforts on building up the North's economy. 

In line with this, the plenary meeting adopted a separate statement pledging to focus all energy on building a socialist economy.

North Korea's latest announcement is seen a step towards its will to denuclearize, which observers believe will raise the prospects of a successful inter-Korean summit, just six days away. 
Kim Soyon, KBS World Radio News

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