The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
North Korea
Thu, December 12, 2019 | 04:51
'Act wisely': North Korea warns US of tough talks as year-end deadline nears
Posted : 2019-10-24 13:10
Updated : 2019-10-24 18:02
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
North Korea leader Kim Jong-un. Yonhap
North Korea leader Kim Jong-un. Yonhap

North Korea on Thursday accused U.S. officials of maintaining hostility against Pyongyang despite a ''special'' relationship between leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump and urged Washington to act ''wisely'' through the end of the year.

The statement issued by Foreign Ministry adviser Kim Kye Gwan was clearly referring to an end-of-year deadline set by Kim Jong Un for the Trump administration to offer mutually acceptable terms for a deal to salvage their diplomacy.

''Contrary to the political judgment and intention of President Trump, Washington political circles and DPRK policy makers of the U.S. administration are hostile to the DPRK for no reason, preoccupied with the Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice,'' Kim Kye Gwan said in the statement, referring to North Korea by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. ''We want to see how wisely the U.S. will pass the end of the year.''

Nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have faltered after the collapse of a February summit between Kim Jong Un and Trump where the U.S. side rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a piecemeal deal toward partially surrendering its nuclear capabilities.

The North made a series of short-range missile tests while Kim Jong Un said he would ''wait with patience until the end of the year for the United States to come up with a courageous decision.''

Washington and Pyongyang resumed working-level discussion in Sweden earlier this month, but the meeting broke down amid acrimony with the North Koreans calling the talks ''sickening'' and accusing the Americans of maintaining an ''old stance and attitude.''

The North has since threatened to resume nuclear and long-range missile tests it suspended last year while pursuing diplomacy with the United States, while Kim Jong Un vowed to overcome U.S.-led international sanctions he said has both pained and infuriated his people.

Kim Kye Gwan said Kim Jong Un considers his relationship with Trump as ''special'' and that trust between the leaders was still intact.

''I sincerely hope that a motive force to overcome all the obstacles between the DPRK and the U.S. and to advance the bilateral relations in the better direction will be provided on the basis of the close relationship,'' Kim Kye Gwan said.

In his mid-70s, Kim Kye Gwan is a veteran diplomat who led the North Korean delegation at much of the now-dormant six-nation nuclear disarmament talks held in Beijing in 2003-2008.

The North Korean statement came after Trump during a Cabinet meeting on Monday said he continues to have a good relationship with the North Korean leader and claimed that the United States might have gone to war with the North if it were not for his presidency.

''I like Kim, he likes me,'' Trump said. ''We get along. I respect him, he respects me.''

When asked about Kim Kye Gwan's comments during a news conference, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said it was encouraging that the leaders of North Korea and the United States are expressing mutual trust and that Seoul hopes for the nuclear talks to produce substantial results.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in lobbied hard for the revival of nuclear diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang, but the North in recent months has suspended virtually all dialogue and cooperation with the South amid the stalemate in nuclear negotiations. Pyongyang has demanded Seoul break away from Washington and restart inter-Korean economic activities held back by U.S.-led sanctions against the North.

Kim Jong Un has signed vague statements calling for the ''complete denuclearization'' of the peninsula in his meetings with Trump and Moon. But the North's hardball attitude in past months have raised doubts on whether Kim Jong Un would ever voluntarily give away his nukes he may see as his strongest guarantee of survival.

North Korea for decades has been pushing a concept of denuclearization that bears no resemblance to the American definition, with Pyongyang vowing to pursue nuclear development until the United States removes its troops and the nuclear umbrella defending South Korea and Japan. (AP)


'Communication channels between the Koreas still alive'
Communication channels between the Koreas are “still alive” despite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's order to destroy all South Korean-funded facilities at a tourist site in North...
Kim orders demolition of 'unpleasant-looking' South Korean tourist facilities at Mt. Geumgang
During "field guidance" to the mountain, Kim also ordered the removal of "all the unpleasant-looking facilities" built by South Korea and construction of the country's own "modern ...








 
 
  • numberVoluntary departure: Re-entry to be allowed for illegal aliens who leave Korea by June
  • numberAir pollution chokes South Korea [PHOTOS]
  • numberChina to grant subsidies on LG, SK's EV batteries
  • numberBiegun may visit Panmungak for 'undisclosed meeting' with NK
  • numberJapanese Foreign Minister allegedly describes Korean counterpart Kang as 'decoration'
  • numberE-mart in downsizing mode amid worsening profits
  • number'Seoul becoming darling of city diplomacy'
  • numberRobots set to replace bank clerks
  • numberWhy sell on e-commerce?
  • numberUS Congress agrees on bill restricting drawdown of US troops in South Korea
  • Yang Joon-il, a musician living ahead of his time, finally recognized 30 year later Yang Joon-il, a musician living ahead of his time, finally recognized 30 year later
  • 'Parasite' earns three Golden Globe nominations 'Parasite' earns three Golden Globe nominations
  • Big Hit denies media reports about BTS' legal action Big Hit denies media reports about BTS' legal action
  • BTS, ARMY battle K-pop negative 'Koreaboo' trend BTS, ARMY battle K-pop negative 'Koreaboo' trend
  • IU-Sung duo's winter ballad tops charts [VIDEO] IU-Sung duo's winter ballad tops charts [VIDEO]
DARKROOM
  • Children deserve better

    Children deserve better

  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright