North Korea urged to scrap nukes plan

THE US and South Korea, stung by North Korea’s admission that it has a secret nuclear weapons programme, are calling on Pyongyang to reverse course and abide by promises to renounce development of these armaments.

The startling disclosure, announced on Wednesday night by the White House, changed the political landscape in East Asia, setting back hopes that North Korea was on the road to becoming a more benign presence in the region.

Japan expressed “grave concern” about North Korea’s nuclear revelation.