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North Korean leader talks war but doesn’t comment on nukes
Posted On Dec 31 2015
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North Korea’s main newspaper showed photos of a visibly upset Kim Jong Un holding back tears beside Kim’s open casket.
Kim Yang Gon, who was a secretary of the Workers’ Party and the head of its United Front Department, the unit that handles ties with South Korea, was Kim Jong Un’s “closest comrade, a solid revolutionary partner”, the KCNA news agency said.
The two sides met for talks in August after a sustained military stand-off and agreed to reduce tension and hold further talks at vice-ministerial level, although subsequent negotiations have been fruitless.
Speeches by a North Korean leader used to be rare. He has delivered his New Year speech live on national television for the past four years.
His speech came days after Kim Yang-gon, the leader’s key aide, who handled inter-Korean affairs, died in a vehicle accident Tuesday, which analysts said could cast a cloud over Seoul-Pyongyang ties.
In 1976, an official said to be a rival to then-president Kim Il Sung died in a vehicle crash. “Given that, one is bound to be sceptical about any such report coming from North Korea”.
Kim has been pursuing the development of a nuclear arsenal while boosting the country’s fragile economy, commonly known as the “byeongjin” policy.
“We must create a turnaround in economic development”, he said, stressing the need to improve production and efficiency in a range of sectors from energy to agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
The North’s New Year’s message is closely monitored by South Korea and others as it offers clues to the North’s annual policy goals.
He has relaxed some controls on farmers and state-run firms, and set up more than a dozen special economic zones.
“South Korea should honor the spirit of the inter-Korean agreement in August”, said Kim, referring to talks aimed at improving relations after a landmine blast injured two South Korean soldiers earlier in the month.
The party gathering, to be held in May, is the first time the Workers’ Party has held a congress since 1980.
