Daily US Times: North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un called for ‘positive and offensive measures’ to ensure the country’s ‘sovereignty and security’, state media said.
He was speaking at a multi-day gathering of party leaders in Pyongyang, which is unusual for this time of the year.
The comments came amid speculations that Noth Korea could end negotiations on denuclearisation with the US, and restart major weapons testing. The US said it would be ‘extraordinarily disappointed’ if the North end the negotiation.
Earlier this month, North Korea threatened US for a ‘Christmas gift’, if Washington failed to offer concessions in the nuclear talks by the end of the year.
Kim’s unusual meeting
North Korea’s state media KCNA said, Mr Kim opened the party meeting on Saturday, and the meeting would continue on Monday. He presided over the session on Sunday.
The meeting is one of the state’s highest decision-making body, though it is largely thought that Mr Kim holds the absolute power and his decision considered the ultimate.
The party meeting comes just days before much-anticipated New Year’s Day address, where Mr Kim previously addressed big decisions about denuclearisation.
In the meeting, he emphasised ‘the need to take positive and offensive measures to fully ensure the sovereignty and security of the country, as required by the present situation’, though he did not explain what the ‘offensive measures’ could mean..
US-North Korea negotiations
The relations between the nation erupted earlier in December when North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Ri Thae Song hinted that Pyongyang could resume long-range missile tests if Washington refused to change its negotiating position.
It was ‘entirely up to the US what Christmas gift it will select, Mr Song said at the time.
The US military officials are closely watching North Korea’s actions. The commander of Pacific Air Forces said it was possible for North Korea to launch a long-range missile.
But President Trump was reportedly joking this comment by saying he is ready to handle North Korea’s gift.
‘Maybe it’s present where he sends me a beautiful vase as opposed to a missile test. I may get a vase. I may get a nice present from him. You don’t know. You never know’, Trump said.
On Sunday, before Kim’s comments were publicised, the White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien said the US had “many tools in its tool kit” to respond to any North Korean tests.
‘If Kim Jong-un takes that approach we’ll be extraordinarily disappointed, and we’ll demonstrate that disappointment’, he said.