<p>South Korea's leader warned Thursday the peninsula could slide back into a "state of crisis" if Pyongyang follows through on threats to resume testing long-range missiles.</p>.<p>Pyongyang conducted an unprecedented seven weapons tests in January, including of its most powerful missile since 2017 when leader Kim Jong Un baited then-US president Donald Trump with a spate of provocative launches.</p>.<p>High profile negotiations between Trump and Kim followed, but collapsed in 2019 and have languished as Pyongyang has doubled down on military development, warning last month that it could abandon a self-imposed moratorium on long-range missile and nuclear weapons tests.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/north-korea-calls-for-economic-growth-improved-lives-despite-persevering-struggle-1079209.html" target="_blank">North Korea calls for economic growth, improved lives despite 'persevering struggle'</a></strong></p>.<p>In a written interview with international press agencies including <em>AFP</em>, President Moon Jae-in said that any move by North Korea to restart long-range missile tests would wipe out years of effort and peace talks.</p>.<p>"If North Korea's series of missile launches goes as far as scrapping a moratorium on long-range missile tests, the Korean Peninsula may instantly fall back into the state of crisis we faced five years ago," he said.</p>.<p>Moon, who repeatedly pursued peace talks with the North during his five-year term, is set to leave office in May. South Korea only permits presidents to serve a single term in power.</p>.<p>The country will elect his successor on March 9.</p>.<p>Despite the lack of progress in nuclear talks, "necessary communication" between Moon and Kim has continued, the South Korean president said.</p>.<p>The demise of the Trump-Kim talks without a deal was "very regrettable", he added, saying that the two sides should have sought a more incremental approach to making a deal.</p>.<p>"It would have been best if a 'big deal' had been reached... If that was too hard, however, I think a 'small deal' should have been sought to take a phased approach."</p>.<p>Although Trump's successor US President Joe Biden has pursued a more muted approach to North Korean diplomacy, Moon said he expected that another summit between the US leader and Kim would take place "eventually".</p>.<p>"It is just a matter of time," he said.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>South Korea's leader warned Thursday the peninsula could slide back into a "state of crisis" if Pyongyang follows through on threats to resume testing long-range missiles.</p>.<p>Pyongyang conducted an unprecedented seven weapons tests in January, including of its most powerful missile since 2017 when leader Kim Jong Un baited then-US president Donald Trump with a spate of provocative launches.</p>.<p>High profile negotiations between Trump and Kim followed, but collapsed in 2019 and have languished as Pyongyang has doubled down on military development, warning last month that it could abandon a self-imposed moratorium on long-range missile and nuclear weapons tests.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/north-korea-calls-for-economic-growth-improved-lives-despite-persevering-struggle-1079209.html" target="_blank">North Korea calls for economic growth, improved lives despite 'persevering struggle'</a></strong></p>.<p>In a written interview with international press agencies including <em>AFP</em>, President Moon Jae-in said that any move by North Korea to restart long-range missile tests would wipe out years of effort and peace talks.</p>.<p>"If North Korea's series of missile launches goes as far as scrapping a moratorium on long-range missile tests, the Korean Peninsula may instantly fall back into the state of crisis we faced five years ago," he said.</p>.<p>Moon, who repeatedly pursued peace talks with the North during his five-year term, is set to leave office in May. South Korea only permits presidents to serve a single term in power.</p>.<p>The country will elect his successor on March 9.</p>.<p>Despite the lack of progress in nuclear talks, "necessary communication" between Moon and Kim has continued, the South Korean president said.</p>.<p>The demise of the Trump-Kim talks without a deal was "very regrettable", he added, saying that the two sides should have sought a more incremental approach to making a deal.</p>.<p>"It would have been best if a 'big deal' had been reached... If that was too hard, however, I think a 'small deal' should have been sought to take a phased approach."</p>.<p>Although Trump's successor US President Joe Biden has pursued a more muted approach to North Korean diplomacy, Moon said he expected that another summit between the US leader and Kim would take place "eventually".</p>.<p>"It is just a matter of time," he said.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>