N. Korea may seek for dialogue with U.S. as 'nuclear state': unification ministry
통일부 "북한 핵미사일 능력 고도화 진전... 내년엔 대미 협상 가능성 탐색할 듯" Having achieved notable advancements in nuclear and missile capabilities, North Korea may pursue negotiation with the U.S. to earn recognition as a 'nuclear state.' next year. The driving force may be the need to find a way out of growing international pressure. According to our Oh Jung-hee, many analysts, including unification ministry officials... anticipate more reveals during the New Year's speech by Kim Jong-un. North Korea has made some progress in developing its nuclear and missile capabilities this year... and next year, the regime may seek to be recognized as a 'nuclear state'... and negotiate with the U.S. That's... the South Korean unification ministry's evaluation and outlook on North Korea. The ministry says... Pyongyang has enhanced its nuclear capabilities and missile range... through September's nuclear test and multiple missile launches this year. But the ministry says... it's unclear whether the regime can actually fire an intercontinental ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead. The economic impact of international sanctions is starting to hit the regime,... as figures show... the North's trade with China decreased by over 10-percent in November compared to last year... and total exports fell,... by almost 32-percent on-year. The number of its overseas workers has also dropped. International humanitarian assistance for North Korea is on the decline... and several of its ambassadors have been expelled,... which implies the regime is becoming further isolated. The unification ministry says... the regime may seek a way-out of its current state next year. And that's why the young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's New Year's speech next week... will draw much attention. (Korean) "Kim Jong-un's New Year's speech lays out the regime's overall direction for domestic politics and the economy, as well as for relations with other countries. There's a high possibility that Kim may declare the regime's completion of its nuclear weapons program and turn toward a peaceful dialogue with the surrounding countries." For the last two years, Pyongyang has been passive in interacting with Seoul,... making no replies to Seoul's suggestion of military talks and Red Cross conferences. The unification ministry says it will pay close attention to whether the North will hint of a change to that... through the upcoming New Year's speech. Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News. Arirang News Facebook: / arirangtvnews ------------------------------------------------------------ [Subscribe Arirang Official YouTube] ARIRANG TV: / arirang ARIRANG RADIO: / music180arirang ARIRANG NEWS: / arirangnews ARIRANG K-POP: / arirangworld ARIRANG ISSUE: / arirangtoday ARIRANG CULTURE: / arirangkorean ------------------------------------------------------------ [Visit Arirang TV Official Pages] Facebook: / arirangtv Twitter: / arirangworld Instagram: / arirangworld Homepage: http://www.arirang.com ------------------------------------------------------------ [Arirang K-Pop] YouTube: / arirangworld Facebook: / arirangkpop Google+: http://plus.google.com/+arirangworld
