Kim calls for corresponding US measures, ready to meet Trump

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has renewed his commitment to denuclearisation but warned that he may have no option but to seek an alternative course if the United States does not take corresponding measures and maintains sanctions.

Kim made the comments on Tuesday during his annual New Year’s Day address laying out Pyongyang’s top priorities for the 12 months ahead.

In a speech broadcast by the North’s state television, he said there would be faster progress on denuclearisation if Washington took corresponding action. 

North Korea would have “no option but to explore a new path in order to protect our sovereignty” if the US “miscalculates our people’s patience, forces something upon us and pursues sanctions and pressure without keeping a promise it made in front of the world”, Kim said.

He was referring to his landmark summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, when he said he had “fruitful talks” and “exchanged constructive ideas”.

At the time, the two leaders signed a vaguely-worded pledge on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, but progress has since stalled with Pyongyang and Washington arguing over their agreement’s interpretation.

“I am ready to sit with the US president again at any time in the future and will make efforts by all means to produce a result that will be welcomed by the international community,” Kim said.

Kim and Trump shake hands after their summit in June in Singapore [File: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]

Pyongyang has demanded Washington lift sanctions and declare an official end to the 1950-1953 Korean War in response to its initial, unilateral steps towards denuclearisation, including dismantling its only known nuclear testing site and a key missile engine facility.

Kim also called for South Korea to stop joint military exercises with “outside forces” involving strategic assets, calling such drills a “source of tension”.

“War-related equipment – including strategic assets of outside powers – should no longer be allowed to be brought in,” he added.

Seoul and Washington are in a security alliance and the US stations 28,500 troops in the South.

The North is subject to multiple sets of United Nations Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile weapons programmes.

SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies