Meanwhile, the commander of US forces in South Korea says a plan proposed by Seoul to reduce military outposts in the Demilitarized Zone is 'worth the risk'. He added it was part of the continued efforts to find a lasting peace. Our correspondent Jack Barton reports.

JACK BARTON SEOUL "The Commander of U.S. Forces in South Korea, General Vincent Brooks, met the press in Seoul on Wednesday, crediting the U.S. military presence in South Korea for successfully setting the stage for this year's diplomatic progress with the D.P.R.K. while also supporting continued pressure on Pyongyang to prevent the current diplomacy reversing course. But Brooks also backed current trust building moves by Washington and Seoul, such as the suspension of large-scale joint war-games, which would normally be taking place right now as well as South Korea's plan to reduce border outposts and military equipment along the demilitarized zone which Brooks said carried a reasonable degree of risk."

VINCENT K. BROOKS COMMANDER OF US FORCES KOREA "So these actions to reduce tensions can be done concurrently with broader international pressure to prevent a backing up and a continued moving forward of progress."

JACK BARTON SEOUL "About 28,500 US troops remain stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the Korean War, which ended in an armistice. Besides serving as the commander of U.S. troops, Brooks also commands UN forces, which in the event of war would also make him commander of South Korean forces. Brooks said his troops were finding other ways to maintain readiness in the absence of the major military drills, which were suspended by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of a deal with Kim Jong Un. Brooks also responded to widespread reports, the latest coming from the United Nations, that Pyongyang has not stopped nuclear activities, saying diplomacy was still in its very first stages but that he remained optimistic. However, Brooks insisted the ball was now in Pyongyang's court saying that having created a nuclear weapons arsenal it was now up to the D.P.R.K. to take 'earnest and serious' steps towards denuclearization. Jack Barton, CGTN, Seoul."