Last Updated May 12, 2018 9:50 AM EDT
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea says it will hold a “ceremony” for the dismantling of its nuclear test site on May 23-25 in what would be a dramatic but symbolic event to set up leader Kim Jong Un’s summit with President Donald Trump next month. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday that all of the tunnels at the country’s northeastern testing ground will be destroyed by explosion, and that observation and research facilities and ground-based guard units will also be removed.
The North said it plans to invite journalists from the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and Britain to inspect the process.
Kim had revealed plans to shut down the nuclear test site during his summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in last month. Last week, U.S. intelligence said the North Koreans had started pulling cables from the tunnels at their nuclear test site — a first step toward closing them down, CBS News’ national security correspondent David Martin reported.
President Trump tweeted Thursday that his “highly-anticipated” meeting with Kim will take place in Singapore on June 12. “We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace!” he tweeted.
The president’s news comes hours after he welcomed home three detained Americans at Joint Base Andrews, just outside Washington, D.C., following their release by North Korea. The three men, Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song and Tony Kim, were released during a visit on Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
