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North Korea threatens to cancel Trump summit North Korea threatens to cancel Trump summit
(35 minutes later)
North Korea has said it may pull out of a summit with US President Donald Trump if the US unilaterally insists it gives up its nuclear weapons. North Korea has said it may pull out of a summit with US President Donald Trump if the US insists it gives up its nuclear weapons.
The highly anticipated meeting between Mr Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-un is due to take place on 12 June.The highly anticipated meeting between Mr Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-un is due to take place on 12 June.
But in an angry statement, North Korea's vice-foreign minister accused the US of making reckless statements and of harbouring sinister intentions.But in an angry statement, North Korea's vice-foreign minister accused the US of making reckless statements and of harbouring sinister intentions.
He points the finger squarely at US National Security Adviser John Bolton.He points the finger squarely at US National Security Adviser John Bolton.
"We shed light on the quality of Bolton already in the past, and we do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards him," said Kim Kye-gwan. "We do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards him," said Kim Kye-gwan.
The groundbreaking agreement for Mr Kim and Mr Trump to meet came about as North Korea said it was committed to denuclearising the Korean peninsula.The groundbreaking agreement for Mr Kim and Mr Trump to meet came about as North Korea said it was committed to denuclearising the Korean peninsula.
Exactly what that would entail has remained unclear, but North Korea has invited foreign media to witness the dismantling of its main nuclear test site later this month.Exactly what that would entail has remained unclear, but North Korea has invited foreign media to witness the dismantling of its main nuclear test site later this month.
But the BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul says the latest statement has thrown the basis for any denuclearisation deal - and indeed the summit itself - into doubt. The BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul says North Korea - which had long said its nuclear arsenal is essential for its survival as a state - is now making its demands clear.
What does North Korea's statement say?What does North Korea's statement say?
Mr Kim's statement on Wednesday, carried by state news agency KCNA, said that if the US "corners us and unilaterally demands we give up nuclear weapons we will no longer have an interest in talks" and "will have to reconsider" attending the 12 June summit. Mr Kim's statement, carried by state media, said that if the US "corners us and unilaterally demands we give up nuclear weapons we will no longer have an interest in talks" and "will have to reconsider" attending the 12 June summit.
He said North Korea "had high hopes" for the summit, but that it was "very unfortunate that the US is provoking us ahead of the summit by spitting out ludicrous statements". He said North Korea did have "high hopes" but that it was "very unfortunate that the US is provoking us ahead of the summit by spitting out ludicrous statements".
Kim Kye-gwan is known to be highly respected in the North Korea leadership and has taken part in negotiations with the US before. There is very little chance his comments were not personally endorsed by Kim Jong-un. Kim Kye-gwan is known to be highly respected in the North Korean leadership and has taken part in negotiations with the US before. There is very little chance his comments were not personally endorsed by Kim Jong-un.
Hours before the announcement, in a sign of growing problems, North Korea had also pulled out of a meeting scheduled with South Korea on Wednesday.
That was a reaction to the start of US-South Korea joint military drills. North Korea had said it would allow them to go ahead, but then called them "a provocative military ruckus" which was undermining its diplomatic efforts.
Why the personal attack on John Bolton?Why the personal attack on John Bolton?
Mr Bolton's appointment in March clearly angered North Korea.
The ultra-hawkish conservative is a firm defender of US power and a confrontational advocate for wielding that strength abroad. He's said previously it would be "perfectly legitimate" to carry out a pre-emptive strike on North Korea.The ultra-hawkish conservative is a firm defender of US power and a confrontational advocate for wielding that strength abroad. He's said previously it would be "perfectly legitimate" to carry out a pre-emptive strike on North Korea.
In media interviews over the weekend, he suggested North Korea could follow a Libyan model of nuclear disarmament, a model many analysts say will have alarmed the North considering the fate of the Libyan leadership. In media interviews over the weekend, he said North Korea could follow a Libyan model of nuclear disarmament - Libya gave up its weapons and only then secured economic aid.
Our correspondent says the North Koreans were clearly watching, and didn't like what they heard.
Kim Kye-gwan said in his statement that this was "not an expression of intention to address the issue through dialogue".Kim Kye-gwan said in his statement that this was "not an expression of intention to address the issue through dialogue".
"It is essentially a manifestation of awfully sinister moves to impose on our dignified state the destiny of Libya or Iraq which had been collapsed due to yielding the whole of their countries to big powers."It is essentially a manifestation of awfully sinister moves to impose on our dignified state the destiny of Libya or Iraq which had been collapsed due to yielding the whole of their countries to big powers.
"We do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards [Bolton].""We do not hide our feeling of repugnance towards [Bolton]."
Is it just Bolton? Mr Kim also warns Mr Trump that if he "follows in the footsteps of his predecessors" - refusing to engage with North Korea unless it gives up its nuclear weapons - "he will be recorded as more tragic and unsuccessful president than his predecessors, far from his initial ambition to make unprecedented success".
No, there's also a dig at Mr Trump.
Mr Kim warns that if he "follows in the footsteps of his predecessors" - refusing to engage with North Korea unless it gives up its nuclear weapons - "he will be recorded as more tragic and unsuccessful president than his predecessors, far from his initial ambition to make unprecedented success".
How do the military drills come into it?
Mr Kim surprised the world in January by indicating he wanted to end his country's decades of isolation.
One of the things he agreed to was letting routine joint military drills between South Korea and the US go ahead.
The drills - which involve huge numbers of troops and war machinery - happen a few times every year and infuriate North Korea. It says they're essentially a rehearsal for an invasion.
They were briefly postponed around the Winter Olympics in the South - which the North attended - but a fresh round began on Wednesday.
North Korea unexpectedly responded exactly as it has in the past - called them a "provocation". They cancelled an important but procedural meeting with South Korea planned for later that day. The meeting was a follow-up from the historic South-North talks last month.
Why has North Korea changed its tune?Why has North Korea changed its tune?
Our correspondent in Seoul says they likely feel they have given up a lot without getting anything in return. Laura Bicker, BBC News, Seoul
North Korea has suspended its controversial missile tests, promised no more nuclear tests and appears to have started dismantling Punggye-ri, its nuclear test site. The whole reason the North Korean state has spent years building up a nuclear arsenal, at such a great cost, is for survival.
It has signed a denuclearisation pledge with South Korea - albeit a vague one - and It last week freed three Americans from prison. So to compare denuclearisation in North Korea with Libya or indeed Iraq as John Bolton did on Sunday is not going to offer much comfort. Both regimes collapsed.
But the US appears to be indicating that North Korea will get the economic support it wants only after it's given up its weapons, something the North says is is unacceptable. This is also a warning shot to the Trump administration. They will be aware how much Mr Trump wants this summit and how it is being spun as a success brought about by his maximum pressure strategy.
Wednesday's angry announcement is North Korea setting out their terms for the talks, and holding the summit in the balance while they do so, our correspondent adds. There were signs this boasting irritated Pyongyang, but now it has decided to speak out through someone in a position of power.
North Korea wants the world to know that it is coming to the negotiating table from a position of strength, and they may feel that they are making all the concessions.
They've suspended all missile tests, released the three US detainees, Kim Jong-un met President Moon and the pair signed a declaration, and they're about to dismantle a nuclear test site in front of international media.
So to hear the Trump administration claiming credit for a deal they don't like has been a step too far.
These statements more than hint that North Korea is prepared to walk away from President Trump's summit in Singapore until it does hear a deal it does like.