North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gave his usual New Year address - from South Korea's The Korea Herald:
NK leader talks of denuclearization, economic development in New Year address
The North Korean leader on Tuesday reiterated his determination to achieve complete denuclearization and also called for economic development in his annual New Year’s address, stressing the need to strengthen the North’s defense.
In the address, Kim Jong-un highlighted last year’s developments in inter-Korean and US-North Korea relations, while calling on his country to seek economic development and modernize its defense industry.
Kim delivered the address while sitting on a sofa in an office with portraits of his father, Kim Jong-il, and grandfather Kim Il-sung in the background. His previous New Year’s addresses had taken place in more formal settings, with Kim standing at a podium.
While Kim’s address included conditions for further talks with the US, Seoul welcomed the speech as a sign of the North Korean leader’s willingness to improve inter-Korean relations and achieve denuclearization.
Regarding relations with the US, Kim said he was ready to meet with US President Donald Trump again at any time, but warned he would “find a new path” if the US were to test North Koreans’ patience with sanctions and pressure.
“I am ready to sit face to face with the US president again at any time going forward, and will make efforts to produce an outcome the international community would welcome,” he said in an apparent response to a series of conciliatory gestures from the US. Trump has said he would like to hold a summit with Kim in January or February.
Now, compare and contrast - CNN:
Kim Jong Un says North Korea isn't making nukes, warns US on sanctions
Here is NPR:
Kim Jong Un Wants New Summit With Trump, But Also Issues A Veiled Warning
How about just listening to the guy and taking what he says at face value. He is gradually easing tensions between the two Koreas: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here aaaand I got a lot more but you get my drift...
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