(LEAD) N.K. leader resumes public activity with visit to cemetery for war dead

All News 11:20 July 28, 2017

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS more info throughout)

SEOUL, July 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's state media said Friday that leader Kim Jong-un visited a cemetery to commemorate veterans killed during the 1950-53 Korean War on the armistice anniversary earlier this week.

Kim resumed his public appearances after a hiatus of 15 days by paying homage to fallen fighters at the cemetery in Pyongyang on Thursday, raising speculation that the repressive regime may delay its missile launch.

The leader's visit was aimed at marking the 64th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement that ended the three-year war, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The armistice anniversary passed without any provocative act despite speculation that the country may be preparing to launch another missile around Thursday following its test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 4.

The armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, leaving South and North Korea technically in a state of war. The North has designated the date as Victory Day to celebrate what it claims is its victory against the United States during the war.

The North has claimed that it is developing nuclear weapons as a deterrent to what it called Washington's hostile policy toward it.

A photo carried by the country's main newspaper showed Kim Won-hong, who was believed to have been removed from his position as spy chief in mid-January.

He re-appeared at a military parade in April for the first time after the dismissal, but it was not confirmed whether Kim was reinstated as state media has not mentioned his title.

The repressive regime's possible provocation could deal a blow to President Moon Jae-in's push for engagement with the North at a time when the U.S. is trying to tighten sanctions on Pyongyang.

Seoul had offered to hold inter-military talks Thursday to ease border tensions, and has proposed Red Cross talks on Tuesday to resume reunions of families torn apart by the war. But the North has kept mum toward the South's overture.

South Korea's unification ministry said that there is no change in its plan to seek sanctions and dialogue with the North.

"While responding to North Korea's provocations with strong pressure and sanctions, we will also leave the door for talks open," Lee Eugene, vice ministry spokesperson, told a press briefing.