North Korea’s Kim avoid references to nuclear weapon in New Year speech

[AJU NEWS CORP DB]

In his annual New Year’s speech, North Korean leader Kim Jung Un warned on Friday that the North’s military would keep working to develop “more diverse means of military strike of our own style.”

But Kim’s speech held no major surprise, placing priority on economic growth while avoiding any explicit threats or references to his country's nuclear weapons program or long range long-range missile programs.

The speech was Kim's fourth since becoming the leader in 2011 when his father, Kim Jong Il, died.

Kim said the North was willing to talk with the South to discuss reunification and other issues, but did not mention a summit with President Park Geun-hye of South Korea.

‘’We will actively pursue dialogue and improvement in ties between North and South Korea,” Mr. Kim said. “We will sit down and discuss the issues of the nation, including reunification, with anyone who truly wants the reconciliation, solidarity, peace and reunification of the nation.”

In his speech last year, Kim indicated that he was open to meeting with President Park. Tensions between the two Koreas rose to the brink of armed conflict in 2015 after two South Korean border guards were maimed by land mines. High-level talks helped to ease the armed standoff in August. Since then, the two sides have held inconclusive talks.

In a response to Kim's speech, South Korea's foreign ministry reiterated its position that it was open to talks with the North.

Kim, sporting new plastic-framed glasses and his signature shaved sides haircut, stressed the need to "create a turnaround in economic development" and raise living standards in the impoverished country.

In his 29-minute speech, The young leader also spoke of the need to expand and modernize electricity capacity.

The North is preparing to host a congress of the Workers’ Party in May for the first time in 36 years,

By Alex Lee

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

North Korea’s Kim avoid references to nuclear weapon in New Year speech

Related