VOA 한국어 3월 21일

1. President Trump Warns Iran: "Energy Facilities to Be Obliterated If Agreement Not Reached Soon" U.S. President Donald Trump raised the level of pressure on Iran's new leadership by issuing a military warning that if an agreement accepting U.S. demands is not reached "quickly," energy facilities within Iran could be "obliterated." In a post on his social media platform "Truth Social" on the 30th, President Trump stated that while there had been "great progress" in negotiations with Iranian officials over the past week, "if for any reason an agreement is not reached quickly, or if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately 'open for business,' we will blow up and completely destroy all the power plants, oil wells, Karg Island, and perhaps all desalination facilities that we have intentionally 'left untouched'." 2. North Korea Tests New ICBM Engine Under Kim Jong-un's Observation... Experts: “Capabilities Developed, Purpose Uncertain” The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 29th that North Korea conducted a ground ejection test of a new solid-fuel engine that could be used in an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with Chairman Kim Jong Un in attendance. Regarding North Korea’s engine test, Van Van Diepen, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, told VOA on the 30th, “Since the purpose of this engine has not been clearly disclosed, it is somewhat unclear exactly what is happening, as is often the case with North Korea.” He explained that key steps, such as long-range flight tests and re-entry vehicle verification, still remain to fully demonstrate ICBM capabilities capable of striking the U.S. mainland.