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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a surprise New Year address in Pyongyang on Tuesday.
SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for an end to confrontation between the two Koreas, technically still at war in the absence of a peace treaty to end their 1950-53 conflict, in a surprise New Year speech broadcast on state media.
The address by Kim, who took over power in the state after his father, Kim Jong Il, died in 2011, appeared to take the place of the policy-setting New Year editorial published in leading state newspapers.
But North Korea has offered olive branches before and Kim's speech does not necessarily signify a change in tack from a country that vilifies the United States and U.S. ally South Korea at every chance it gets.
North Korea raised tensions in the region by launching a long-range rocket in December that it said was aimed at putting a scientific satellite in orbit, drawing international condemnation.
North Korea, which considers North and South as one country, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is banned from testing missile or nuclear technology under U.N. sanctions imposed after its 2006 and 2009 nuclear weapons tests.
North Korea missiles could reach US, says South
Elizabeth Dalziel / AP
From work to play, see pictures from inside the secretive country.
"An important issue in putting an end to the division of the country and achieving its reunification is to remove confrontation between the north and the south," Kim said in the address that appeared to be pre-recorded and was made at an undisclosed location.
"The past records of inter-Korean relations show that confrontation between fellow countrymen leads to nothing but war," he said.
Economic reform?
Kim also called for improving living standards of his impoverished nation, with passages in his speech acknowledging the poor state of the country's economy that has long lagged behind the rest of the region.
But Kim gave no indication whether he plans to introduce economic reforms or allow free enterprise, except to say the economy should be underpinned by science and technology.
"The industrial revolution in the new century is, in essence, a scientific and technological revolution, and breaking through the cutting edge is a shortcut to the building of an economic giant," he said.
North Korea: Detained American tourist has 'admitted his crime'
The speech avoided harsh criticism of the United States, its wartime enemy. North Korea has used past New Year's editorials to accuse the Washington of plotting war.
In other signs of changes in the country -- at least at a superficial level -- North Korea also had its first grand New Year's Eve celebration, with residents of the capital treated to the boom of cannons and fireworks at midnight.
David Guttenfelder / AP
In this March 9, 2011 photo, a girl plays the piano inside the Changgwang Elementary School in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
In Pyongyang, residents danced in the snow at midnight Monday to celebrate the end of a big year for North Korea, including the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung and the first year of Kim Jong Un's leadership. Fireworks lit up the cold night sky, and people stood in fur-lined parkas, taking photos and laughing and dancing with each other in plazas.
High tensions with South remain
The New Year address was the first in 19 years by a North Korean leader after the death of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un's grandfather. Kim Jong Il rarely spoke in public and disclosed his national policy agenda in editorials in state newspapers.
"(Kim's statement) apparently contains a message that he has an intention to dispel the current face-off (between the two Koreas), which could eventually be linked with the North's call for aid (from the South)," said Kim Tae-woo, a North Korea expert at the state-funded Korea Institute for National Unification.
South Korean navy ships have found what appeared to be debris from the rocket launched by North Korea this week. NBCNews.com's Alex Witt reports.
"But such a move does not necessarily mean any substantive change in the North Korean regime's policy towards the South," he added.
The two Koreas have seen tensions rise to the highest level in decades after the North bombed a Southern island in 2010, killing two civilians and two soldiers.
More photos from inside North Korea on NBC's PhotoBlog
The sinking of a South Korean navy ship earlier that year was blamed on the North but Pyongyang has denied it and accused Seoul of waging a smear campaign against its leadership.
Last month, South Korea elected as president Park Geun-hye, a conservative daughter of assassinated military ruler Park Chung-hee, whom Kim Il Sung had tried to kill at the height of their Cold War confrontation.
Complete World coverage on NBCNews.com
Park has vowed to pursue engagement with the North and called for dialogue to build confidence but has demanded that Pyongyang abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions, something it is unlikely to do.
Conspicuously absent from Kim's speech was any mention of the nuclear arms program.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Does the olive branch come with a Trojan horse???
No kidding!!!
Check the branch. It probably has thorns.
"The New Year address was the first in 19 years by a North Korean leader after the death of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un's grandfather."
USSR under Stalin was like the N. Korea.
Unfortunately, in N. Korea, it was only continuation of Stalins.
Can any one guess: what these mad commie nuts tell and do next?
Some of these megalomaniac nuts even may not know what they will do next themselves!
When word of this comes out I immediately think of the long lost families separated for over a half a century, there's still time to bring them back together.
you can bet that branch has no olives on it.
Words and rhetoric is the only thing N. Korea has done in 30 years. Sure he says he's holding out the olive branch. But how about something concrete? Open your borders and let people leave. Allow news crews in and show them the real state of your country. Ask for the help your starving people really need. Work with outside help to get your economy restarted. Do that and not only will people start to trust you, you'll find that people might actually invest.
Relax people...this is merely his way of saying...I will trade you this nifty stick for some food.
Ulterior motive, NK wants something?
Chris from Yucaipa: "Words and rhetoric is the only thing N. Korea has done in 30 years."
Really? You mean they didn't also build and successfully test (i) a viable nuclear warhead and (ii) a rocket capable of orbital space flight in the last 30 years? Each of those is an impressive accomplishment of which many other nations in the world can only dream, yet North Korea has achieved BOTH in spite of being one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world.
They deserve better than our ceaseless, small-minded carping. They deserve a measure of respect---however grudgingly it may be given!
Yes and their people have to eat tree bark in order for them to have a weapons program.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/starving-north-koreans-forced-survive-diet-grass-and-tree-bark-2010-07-14
Btw, North Korea did not design their rockets. The Rodong-1 is a reverse engineered Scud. Same with the Taepodong-1. They took Scud designs and went from there. And most of those blew up during or shortly after launch.
Also. North Korea does not nor did they ever have a "viable warhead". They tested a nuclear bomb. A bomb that was the size of a truck. That can only be delivered by a truck, or fishing boat, or speed boat, etc.
Nor did they build their reactor for processing plutonium. That was another gift from Russia.
So no, the only thing North Korea has done has been to destroy. Something any fool can do.
McKayla is not impressed.
did the olive branch have a ding dong stuck to it?
musician by night
I know this sounds crazy, but I really think the world ought to reach out to them.
Kim may be trying to open up somewhat, but coming across strong opposition from within N. Koreas military leaders. They might just whack him if he moves too fast. All I know is that the people are suffering, and by simply being friendly, we can make change more possible, and alleviate a threat at the same time.
Warthog213-984171
Yes I totally agree and I would hate for the South or America to turn a blind eye towards them.... The idea that North Korea could have a large enough nuclear arsenal that could damage enough of any country or would even use them is complete bull created by the media and the fears of people with-in our own country.... They are allied with China and share a common border with them is why we have all these fears.... Its total political bull sh@ that they can't be trusted.... Kim has publicly extended a hand foward and time end any conflicts which may exist need to die too.... Kims father set him up just for such an action by sending him away for schooling.... Not for more tyranny....
North Korea is in the best position of any place in the world and should be taking advantage of that too.... They are the wall which separates the free world against the communist in China and should be receiving aid from both the free world and Communist China.... They should never see a hungry day for its peoples....
North Korea does not have the technology that they need for accurate delivery systems. This is merely chest pounding at the expense of a populace that starves for a cult leader (a continuation of Kim Jong Il's bizarre and radical policies). The south would not be interested in unification based on the north's vision, either. Dealing with Kim Jong Un is problematic - he was groomed to be a chip off the old block.
He wants to go Gangnam Style with PSY.
Well, he certainly is ambitious. I imagine he is trying to legitimize his rule with something other than being "daddy's boy." Maybe solidify might be a more appropriate term than legitimize. Either way, you can see the direction he is trying to take. North Korea and South Korea are split for a reason. You see, while they would like to be a single country, they couldn't really agree on that whole communism/dictatorship thing. And the South has been way ahead of the desolate North in technology and economy pretty much ever since. The North has just about nothing. So the next dictator in line decides he needs to try and improve his economy and technology in the North like the South has. You know, so his people can at least eat something and turn the lights on. That sort of thing. He is also taking steps to reach out to South Korea, because he wants the two countries to be one and would like them to get closer to that if possible. But he has to watch his step at the same time, or risk angering the fellow radicals in control of the country who may no longer support him if he alienates them.
So you see, he is simply trying to take North Korea out of the stone age with radical ideas like "technology" and an "economy." But he can't get too far ahead of himself or risk his current place of shadow puppet in which he is trying to bring on a promotion up to legitimate dictator.
Whether or not we can trust him is an entirely different issue, however. Back before he died, I heard that the old dictator's son was even crazier than he was. Now I don't know if radical ideas like "technology" and "economy" would seem crazy to stone age North Koreans. But I do know that he is extremely ambitious and could be trouble if he is enabled in the wrong way.
New Ruler Give it a shot and see where it goes.He may be sincere in his words. and God of Fate I cannot disbelieve what you heard but I heard just the opposite He is a way more westerner that his dad ever thought of being.Well I guess only time will tell that.
musician by night.... I couldn't have said it better. I totally agree.
Wow...I wonder what Ann Curry will have to say about this...on her CNN show...if NBC stops being a tool about her contract.
Anyway, North Korea, olive branch...yeah, thats nice...
I understand Kim Jong Un has been really hurting since the whole Hostess bankruptcy thing - no more Twinkies, Ho Hos and Ding Dongs for Jong!
over the years asa children evolve they see things that are used and prized by othewrs it is possible that even though he was groomed for his leadership position that he may actually see where his people would be better off to experience that which their fellow southern countrymen have and do sometimes even really bad people have weak spots
Maybe North Korea will allow South Korea access to their sacred unicorn cave.
NK needs to do more than extend an olive branch. We have been down this road too many times in the past to want to try it again. If NK lets its people come and go freely then it would be a sign of change but for now the gesture sounds like they need food for nothing in return.
You've heard one Kim's BS, you've heard them all. "Yeah, we can be at peace. Just lay down your arms and let us in." Funny how these inbred, whacko, self-proclaimed gods never they THEY should lay down their arms, and let someone in who can feed their own people! Kim: go sleep with a cousin and produce another mentally defective leader for the next generation!
What has he done yet that is so wrong. Oh yeah nothing. He's Il's son so he must be bad. Difference is no military training. He can be a leader that N. Korea needs and stop the fighting.
I will believe it when I see it. Otherwise, it's a bunch of BS.
Here's hoping that the new North Korean President is meaning what he said. He has received much of his education outside North Korea. He has already done several things differently. This is a huge step forward, if he is in earnest. And I will trust that he is, until he shows differently. The country he inherited to lead needs it. The Korean Penninsula needs it. The Asian world needs a new direction from North Korea. And, if he does manage to lead N. Korea into a peaceful mode, he will establish a legacy for himself, to all the world. PRESIDENT KIM.....The world is watching to see how you do in this new year, and the years to come. We are hoping for your successful leadership of N. Korea, and your leadership in reducing tension in Korea. It is a welcome announcement for all peaceloving peoples. Our prayers are with you for a peaceful engagement with S. Korea and Korea's ultimate reunification.
Smells like desperation of a dying ideology.
To starve ones people in order to launch something is absurd.
I doubt it has anything to do with a "dying ideology" and more to do with economic sanctions imposed by the west and poor agricultural growing land.
After all, many capitalist countries have millions of starving people. For proof simply look to the US where 1 in 4 Americans go to bed every night hungry.
V.V.V......if he is speaking the truth, it is more than cool. He will become a hero to all the Koreans.....and much of the world. Quite a legacy, I would think.
Speaking the truth? ...Hero?......so hows the weather there in your world?
Wow give the guy a chance and see what happens. He has done some good things. Maybe this is the time he really changes his country around.
2013: Year of the Kim lol
So when does WW3 start?
@ Dexhunter....hopefully, never. Korea has suffered enough in the last 300 years from being attacked by both China and Japan....and then the splitting of their country, and the ensuing War. All should be hoping and praying that this is indeed a change in the right direction. Heaven knows, both Korean nations need it.
The old man died. the young man will hopefully be better. he may be for real, why not proceed with cautious optimism? China and Russia where once the unyielding demons of the world, now they are capitalist buddies. I think this was just a matter of time.
I know when it ends-about 10 seconds after they TRY to launch!
If the North Korean's want to threaten everybody (AGAIN)! Why Doesn't the U.S just send the Stealths a flyn and see if they can back up their big mouths. This talk about targeting the U.S isn't good. I know there has to be ballistic missle subs right off their coast ready to end them all if they really want to get crazy!
Banaschar, I have lived most of my adult life in S. Korea. Here is a new president, expected to do things by those who have made him their president. So, I don't see how he could not have tried to launch the rocket. We wouldn't have, in our situation. But, we are not sitting/making decisions where he is. Pres. Kim can't change things too swiftly, or there will be chaos in N. Korea. He has to take slow steps, in order to get where he wants. Hopefully this is one of those steps. (He already has done several things quite differently than his father and grandfather.) Give him the benefit of the doubt.....and some time, to win over the old guard.
That's BS.
If he changed things and his people were eating food again, able to freely talk with the outside world, had power and water come to their homes again, and some human rights, THEN and only THEN would he be seen as the Hero Of North Korea. Right now, he's nothing but more of the same, another nut that fell off the crazy tree...
The United States won't let it happen, to much money invested in weapons and military spending. Understand that the United States is a gun for hire, there is no profit in Peace.
Idiot. Check your brain. I think it's low on air pressure.
Actually, he's not far wrong. Research Vietnam. That was a U.N. action, fought mostly by American, Canadian, and French troops, most of whom were drafted to die for a cause they didn't care about, in a country they'd never heard of, under rules that guaranteed they couldn't win.
The day we agreed to that treaty the U.S. military became hired thugs, owned by the U.N.
Gun for hire, no profit in Peace? Then Every country on this planet better pay up!!!! Because I have never seen any profit coming from our military....I think it is time, or reductions/cuts will happen.
Boromir - That's a fail. If the US are hired guns, who's paying them? Economically, you can't make a case for the US to be in S Korea. If you think there's no profit in peace, you are lost. I suppose that kind of specious swill plays well in your circles.
Hoosier7- if you have never seen any profit from our military then you dont work for a bank or a manfacturer that does work for the military. every conflict we have been involved with since vietnam has been about one thing and one thing only- money.
Hypo...
UN never sanctioned Vietnam war - the only Canadians who fought there joined the US military.
Canada was heavily involved in the Korean War from the beginning with Navy and troops coming a bit later.
I say give the North Koreans a chance. What is the alternative? There is a positive upside and only status quo if it goes nowhere. It sure cannot get any worse.
Boromir,
Spot on with that comment! The reason their will never be arms control internationally or gun control here in the US is that we are a war mongering and gun possessed culture. Unfortunately their is a direct correlation to guns, weapons and level of intelligence. The higher the IQ the more likely to look for ways to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction and guns in the hands of those who can't handle the responsibility. The lower the IQ the more likely to see conspiracy, fear of someone taking your penis, er guns and having to avoid intelligent discussion to rid the world of weapons that could kill us all.
Wow.
Put the crackpipe down hippy. US doesn't want a war everywhere and we hope just as much as anyone for peace with the North.
Then leave dip$h!t. No one's holding a gun to your head to stay.
The HUGE problem with your argument is that because of a few psychotic morons who can't handle responsibility YOU and your ilk want to punish the millions of Law Abiding, RESPONSIBLE, adults who own guns.
When you start arguing that based on @!$%#s going out and firebombing abortion clinics and assassinating abortion doctors because of religion, you want to ban all religion from everybody, on that day, and not one nanosecond sooner, ( BTW, that is EXACTLY the same argument you are using vs. Guns, so either get on it, or admit that you are a hypocrite) will I care about your tyrannical bullpucky.
I would expect someone of higher IQ to know the difference between there, their, and they're. By the way, your logic is crap, too. You offer no supporting data for your outrageous statement, but people who take a differing opinion from you are automatically of lower intelligence?
I think we've made mistakes, but I don't believe we are war mongering. At times we have stuck our noses where they don't belong, and that has created resentment. I believe a great many S Koreans are greatful for our presence. Please note I will not be making ad hominum attacks on the IQ of people who take differing opinions from mine. This is how we have an adult conversation and get things done.
Why in the world would south Korea want to reunite with the North? It would cost them all their money and then some to rebuild North Korea. And to invite the north korean army and everyone else into south korea would be like bringing a Serial killer into your house. Better to leave things as they are. But south korea should be paying us Big time for protecting their Asses.
Because there are starving humans in the north. And many people CARE about other people.
Then there is the fact that folks in the north are related to those in the south.
One more reason might be because some people might want peace in earth.
tarzan: After rereading your post, I've come to the conclusion, your opinion is based solely on a love of money. Not on the value of human life.
Arizona, when you play with a snake you may just get bit! If they let UN inspectors disarm the nuclear arsenal, I would see the branch of peace and !spend allot of money!
GM AZ and happy new year
Charity begins at home. And the value of human life ? .....who's version ?
Arizona: If you are thinking we will have peace on earth in our lifetime or the next, then I'll have some of that tumbleWEED too. The world has been at war ever since Humans stuck their heads out of caves. It isn't going to stop now or ever. You Pacifists are just pipe dreaming. Peace on earth, give me a break.
Arizona: Like you're the only guy who cares about starving people, aye? Look, starving or not, its only a matter of time until North Korea's actions make even the most peace loving people around the world have to push buttons to turn them into glass--- for our own preservation. And when that unfortunate day comes, it will be all their(North Korea) doing.
tarzan: 'why in the world would South Korea want to reunite with the North'
Historically, one people, one language, one culture with many family members trapped on each side of the 38th Parallel dividing the Korean nation. The Stalinistic country-prison in the North was indeed a creation of Stalin. It survived due to proximity to China not wanting a united Korea allied to the West which had just defeated Japan.
Quirk of history and a resultant divided country. If Tarzan lived in the South but his aged and ill Mother was in the North and he could not even send her a letter....he might see the human horror of the situation.
However, in the real world the outsiders see no value in a United Korea. A high speed rail link between Pusan and London is certainly possible but THINK....would that please the island nation of Japan having to ship their goods via the ocean? Would it please China who is on it's own economic binge leaping ahead of all in Asia? South Korean goods are a quantum leap ahead of the rest of Asia at present and the 'competitors' in the region do not want a United Korea. The U.S. Military has great investment in troops, units, equipment and command structure by maintaining the status-quo. The U.S. military/industrial complex has great investment in selling mega-weapons systems to the South, they do not want to lose that.
Yes, it's a mess. If there is any solution it will be a step by step process and not the 'overnight' opening of a wall as in Germany. The young Swiss-educated current dictator is no fool and he has a pragmatic wife. Here's hoping for the best as the Koreans on both sides of a map line deserve their country united.
Yes there are mothers and fathers in north korea related to some in the south, but both sides are dying out and soon there will be only the young, and the young people in south korea have not lived with a war with north korea and I don't think they really care about Reunivication. I think it would be a nightmare for the south. The country would be flooded with north koreans trying to overthrow the south. The north is not going to give up it's ideology because of reunification. No, it's not worth it.
Tarzan -
600,000 well equipped and highly skilled South Korean troops alongside 28,000 American Troops - Who is protecting who on the ground?
It was quoted by Buttcrack Obama sometime ago that he wasn't sure if he would fire on a country that fired nuclear weapons at us. Anybody else have a problem with that?
You would think that Nobel prize winner Barrack Obama could wave his magic wand and end all this conflict...
HA!
And it was the Nobel Peace prize. We know it wasn't the prize for economics.
He wouldn't will a Nobel Prize for eliminating all Republicans in Congress (to solve the economy problems). I think they have rules against that.
ThinkVoice
think .....voice....try that once.
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is banned from testing missile or nuclear technology under U.N. sanctions imposed after its 2006 and 2009 nuclear weapons tests.
Yeah, that worked so well in Iraq and is working so well Iran.
If NK drops the communism and the tyranny, maybe they can come back out to play.
Ah a New Year springs internal hope...!!!! Then he woke up this morning with a splitting headach asking himself did I really say that? From now on all American wine is banned from our country.
So the new child leader of commie N K is a piece of crap just like his father was and his grandfather was.
These self elected egotistical, megalomaniac sub humans that rule N K have no business existing in this current world with their outlooks on life, war and nuclear testing bombs so they can start more wars and steal more lands.
They are all alike, sub humans of wasted human protoplasm, the list also includes the current leaders of Iran, China, all of the Arab states, the African dictators, and the dictators in S America.
Each and everyone of these sub humans treat their people like dirt and garbage, all to gain more power for themselves, in the case of N K, they have been starving their millions of people to death since the 1950s, millions of their people die every year from starvation, and malnutrition.
These pieces of garbage, each and everyone of them need to be eliminated from the face of this earth. IMMEDIATELY. They have no right to life.
The only "Sub Human" I see here is you, Jim. Crawl back into your cave.
Sounds good. E-Mail me your exact tactical plan ( Parameters : Remove said @!$%#s without killing ONE American or one civilian.) and we'll get right on that.
I wouldnt trust him with a Big Mac!
Tell them how it is Jim!
This little fat idiot with his goofy hair cut has been in power long enough to make positive changes and he has done nothing to help the people of NK. He should have announced that he wants to meet with leaders of the free world to tell them that he wants to open up NK and stop the war mongering. Just like his father and grandfather the only thing he will understand is a good a$$ kicking.
Do a little research. Here's what your looking for :
Name ONE time in history in which a Dictator surrendered his absolute power without at least 20% of his people being killed first.
If you're going on an ass-kicking spree because of "goofy hair cuts", You'll never get past those in your own town. Have you looked around at the "hair do's" in America recently?
But then, we still have people that judge folks by the way they look.
north koreas olive branches always have thorns. they need to show action not the usual b.s.
Peace???? not if the media has anything to do with it as the media thrives on conflict.
I would like to see North and South Korea to tear down the wall. Come together as one. It can be done. Let's pray everyday that this happen. Prayer does work. I will pray everyday till this happpens. God Bless Our Freedom and our troops, for keeping us free from all communism and other countries who just do not undertand why we have a constitution and Bill of rights.
At this point each and every South Korean person would like to do something nasty to Kim Jong Un's anus. Nasty in the sense that it would cause Kim Jong Un a great deal of pain and discomfort to sit down for several months. They would probably like to use that olive branch for this said purpose no doubt.
And I supposed you have spoken with "each and every South Korean"?
yes, I did. but, responses varied. some mentioned they would like to use a live grenade or assault rifle... etc. each south korean thanked me individually for my attention to detail for getting in contact with them in that manner. They also said they are concerned about the number of political killings and how the prisons are overflowing with political prisoners who's only crime was mentioning unification... professors, teachers and government workers... kneejerk wiseass, read a paper will you? Kim JOng Un is a murderous dictator thug ...
Let's see some concrete action and less words. A few years back the two Koreas agreed to re-construct and re-open the railways between the two countries. The south did their part, but the north refused to open the rail lines. Let's see them agree to open ALL three lines to BOTH freight and passenger service. The south needs to agree to additional aid for the north ONLY if it is shipped then entire distance by rail!
Kim Jong Un needs to invite China to build a high-speed railway from Beijing to Seoul, VIA Pyongyang. Acts along these lines would indicate real progress and sincerity.
I think his wife is making a big, positive, impact! -
I said it in the beginning.
If he moves to fast, he'll be assassinated.
you go Young Man...The world is a different place, than that of your father. help your people to have a fulfilled life, and experience the world. Given his age, and the tremendous responsibility he has, I think he is doing great...It is actually very interesting to watch how he loves his people and is trying to bring dreams alive. i would guess if he does half of what he says he will do, he will be a beloved leader...
My advice to South Korea would be to proceed VERY cautiously. Talk is cheap; see what actions the North Koreans take to fulfill the 'promise' of reunification, because history does not look kindly upon North Korea's (mis) treatment of its own people.
Guess whos got the fireworks for the Celebration!