North Korea announces 'very important test' at rocket launch site in ominous sign for 2020

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Sunday that it successfully conducted a “very important test” at a long-range rocket launch site, prompting President Donald Trump to warn that Kim Jong Un could lose “everything” if he acts aggressively.

The statements were the latest sign that hopes for diplomacy are unraveling ahead of a year-end deadline set by North Korea for Washington to offer concessions to restart stalled nuclear talks.

They capped a week of warnings as the communist state suggests it is increasingly impatient over the diplomatic deadlock and might be leaning toward the “new way” mentioned by Kim earlier this year.

On Tuesday, a North Korean diplomat said it is “entirely” up to the U.S. what “Christmas gift” it wants to get as the year draws to a close, prompting speculation North Korea might be preparing for a long-range-missile test.

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