Kim: Trump talks at risk over sanctions

Bloomberg

Kim Jong-un used his New Year’s address to issue a pointed warning to President Donald Trump, saying North Korea would take a “new path” in nuclear talks if the US didn’t relax economic sanctions.
While Kim affirmed his willingness to meet Trump again, his nationally televised speech offered no new initiatives to advance talks that have sputtered since their first summit in June. Instead, Kim said his patience with the US-led sanctions regime designed as punishment for his nuclear weapons programme was running out.
“I am willing to sit with the US president any time in the future and will strive to produce outcomes that would be welcomed by the international community,” Kim said, wearing a suit and tie and seated in a plush leather chair overlooked by paintings of his father and grandfather at work.
“However, if the United States does not deliver its promise and misjudge our people’s patience, making unilateral demands to continue sanctions and put pressure on us, we will have no choice but to seek a new path to protect the country’s independence, interests and peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Kim said.
In a tweet, Trump welcomed Kim’s comments about a potential meeting and halting nuclear weapons tests.
“I also look forward to meeting with Chairman Kim who realises so well that North Korea possesses great economic potential!” Trump said.
In his speech, Kim also signalled that any deal might require weakening the US-South Korean alliance, urging Seoul not to resume military exercises with the American side. And he made clear that he believed his agreement to “work towards complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula” included “strategic assets,” such as America’s nuclear-capable planes and warships. Kim’s ability to carry out his threats appeared limited if Trump maintains his hard line. The US can defend the sanctions regime through its veto on the United Nations Security Council and its influence over South Korea.
The speech showed Kim’s continued focus on direct diplomacy with Trump.