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North Korean leader talks war but doesn’t comment on nukes North Korean leader talks war but doesn’t comment on nukes
(about 1 hour later)
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in an annual New Year’s speech Friday that he was ready for war if provoked by “invasive” outsiders, but stayed away from past threats centering on the country’s nuclear weapons and long-range missile ambitions.SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in an annual New Year’s speech Friday that he was ready for war if provoked by “invasive” outsiders, but stayed away from past threats centering on the country’s nuclear weapons and long-range missile ambitions.
Kim’s comments, which were broadcast by North Korea’s state TV, largely stuck to the well-worn propaganda meant to glorify him and his leadership for the residents of one of the world’s poorest, most closed countries. But his words will still be pored over by analysts for hints about the country’s intentions for the coming year. His comments stuck to the well-worn propaganda that’s meant to lift his image for the elite residents of one of the world’s poorest, most closed countries, and could be read as an attempt to keep ties with rivals Washington and Seoul from getting worse so he can try to turn around a miserable economy and further solidify his leadership.
There is little public information about the inner workings and policy goals of North Korea’s government, which considers democratic South Korea and its ally the United States its enemies, and is pursuing a long-range missile that could carry a nuclear warhead to America’s mainland. “We will continue to work patiently to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional stability. But if invasive outsiders and provocateurs touch us even slightly, we will not be forgiving in the least and sternly answer with a merciless, holy war of justice,” said Kim, who wore thick black-rimmed glasses that continued his efforts to mimic the style favored by his late grandfather, beloved national founder Kim Il Sung.
Kim didn’t directly offer dialogue to Seoul and Washington, but said he was open to talks with anyone truly interested in “reconciliation and peace” on the Korean Peninsula. He vowed to improve North Korea’s struggling economy. While largely a repeat of the kind of propaganda that appears daily in state-controlled media, Kim’s words on North Korea’s state TV will be pored over by analysts for hints about the country’s intentions for the coming year. There is little public information about the inner workings and policy goals of North Korea’s government, which considers democratic South Korea and its ally the United States its enemies, and is pursuing a long-range missile that could carry a nuclear warhead to America’s mainland.
Some observers had predicted that Kim would avoid overly provocative statements because the county wants to improve relations with South Korea and also China, its most important economic and strategic ally. Ties between North Korea and China have been cool since Kim took power in 2011, but seemed to improve when a senior Chinese official attended a high-profile military parade in Pyongyang in October.
Kim didn’t directly offer dialogue to Seoul and Washington, but said he was open to talks with anyone truly interested in “reconciliation and peace” on the Korean Peninsula. He vowed to improve North Korea’s struggling economy, and also called for the military to advance its technologies to develop more “diversified attack means.”
Analysts say Kim likely wants a push for tangible diplomatic and economic achievements before a convention of the ruling Workers’ Party in May, the party’s first since 1980, when he is widely expected to announce major state polices and shake up the country’s political elite to further consolidate his power.Analysts say Kim likely wants a push for tangible diplomatic and economic achievements before a convention of the ruling Workers’ Party in May, the party’s first since 1980, when he is widely expected to announce major state polices and shake up the country’s political elite to further consolidate his power.
Some had predicted that Kim would avoid overly provocative statements in his New Year’s address because the county wants to improve relations with South Korea and also China, its most important economic and strategic ally. Ties between North Korea and China have been noticeably cooler since Kim took power in 2011, but China seemed to take a step toward mending relations when it sent a senior official to a high-profile military parade in Pyongyang in October. The rival Koreas have been showing mixed progress in reconciliation efforts after they stepped away from a military standoff in August, which started when land mine explosions that Seoul blamed on Pyongyang maimed two South Korean soldiers. The countries ended rare high-level talks last month with no breakthroughs.
The rival Koreas have been showing mixed progress in reconciliation efforts after they stepped away from a military standoff in August, which was touched off by land mine explosions Seoul blamed on Pyongyang that maimed two South Korean soldiers. The countries ended rare high-level talks last month with no breakthrough. In familiar language, Kim in his speech criticized South Korea for continuing to be influenced by “foreign powers,” a reference to its alliance with Washington.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.