The United States has called for North Korea to give up significant portions of its nuclear arsenal before punishing international sanctions are eased, while Pyongyang has accused the United States of “gangster-like” demands for unilateral disarmament. Speaking in Washington on Tuesday, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun said the United States would not give up on talks with Pyongyang. Biegun has previously downplayed the year-end deadline, calling it “artificial” and warning that it would be a “huge mistake and a missed opportunity” for North Korea to take any provocative steps. Such meetings have often been when North Korea has announced major policy shifts. Kim said there was a need to prepare for “the harshness and protracted character of our revolution,” according to KCNA.

Source: National Post December 04, 2019 13:41 UTC