Briefly

DPRK

Kim orders upgrade of satellite launch site

Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has ordered the expansion and modernization of the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, the official Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday. During his recent inspection of the launching ground, Kim called for modernizing and expanding the launch site so that "various rockets could be launched to carry multipurpose satellites, including a military reconnaissance satellite, in the future".

IRAN

'Pause needed' in nuke talks, EU says

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that a pause is needed in talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, citing "external factors" without elaboration. "A final text is essentially ready and on the table," Borrell wrote on Twitter. "As coordinator, I will, with my team, continue to be in touch with all#JCPOA participants and the US to overcome the current situation and to close the agreement." Responding to Borrell, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said the pause "could be a momentum for resolving any remaining issue and a final return".

MIDDLE EAST

IS confirms leader's death in Syria strike

The Islamic State group confirmed for the first time on Thursday that its leader was killed in a US strike in northwestern Syria last month and named his successor. It was the first official comment from the militant group about its leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi since US officials said he blew himself up along with members of his family as US forces raided his hideout in the northwestern Syrian town of Atmeh, near the border with Turkey, on Feb 3. IS also said it has named a successor, identifying him as Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.

Xinhua - Agencies