The country’s leader did soften his tone when it came to neighboring South Korea, though.
SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for urgent talks with South Korea to make the Winter Olympics next month a success, even while repeating claims that he could strike the US with a nuclear bomb if necessary.
In an annual New Year’s day speech, Kim said that “we sincerely hope the games will be successful.” He said that both Koreas should seek to resolve problems among themselves rather than seek help from outside of the region.
“It’s about time that the North and the South sit down and seriously discuss how to improve inter-Korean relations by ourselves and dramatically open up,” Kim said on Monday. Referring to the Olympics, he said later: “We’re willing to take necessary steps including sending our delegation, and for this, the authorities from the North and South could urgently meet.”
President Moon Jae-in welcomed Kim’s comments and repeated that South Korea is ready for talks without conditions, spokesman Park Soo-hyun said.
“The Blue House will cooperate closely with the international community to address the North Korean nuclear issue in a peaceful manner, while sitting down with the North to find the resolution to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and bring peace,” Park said.
The remarks raise hopes for dialogue after months of tensions that have seen President Trump’s administration warn of military action to prevent Kim from threatening the US with nuclear weapons. The UN Security Council last month approved its strongest sanctions yet on North Korea, a move that Pyongyang described as an “act of war.”
Moon had repeatedly called for North Korea to join the Olympic games in Pyeongchang, about 50 miles from the North Korean border. Since taking office in May, he has pushed for dialogue with Kim’s regime, a shift from the conservative government that he replaced.
