North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, just as he has in the past years, made his New Year's address today and laid out plans for 2019.
While calling for domestic efforts towards economic growth,... Kim also sent out messages to South Korea and the U.S.
He urged Washington to take reciprocal actions to the North's efforts... and also called on Seoul to stop joint military drills with the U.S.
Oh Jung-hee has more.
North Korea is willing to start a new relationship with Washington... but that has to be done through joint efforts by the two sides.
That's the message from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Tuesday January 1st,... through his annual New Year's Address.
Kim stressed... he is willing to sit down for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at any time... but added... he can't help but look for a (quote)"new way"... if the U.S. doesn't keep its promise... and forces Pyeongyang with sanctions and pressure.

"If the U.S. takes reliable measures and responds with corresponding actions to our leading efforts, then through these definite and groundbreaking measures, the relations between the two countries will move forward faster."

The North Korean leader also called on South Korea and the U.S. to stop their joint military drills and deployment of strategic assets.
He said... these raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula despite the two Koreas' promise for peace and prosperity.
Kim added multilateral negotiations need to start among the parties concerned... to transform the current armistice status into a complete end of war.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un expressed his will to expand inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation further in the new year.

"Considering the difficulties the South Korean business people at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex had to go through and the wishes of our South Korean compatriots to visit the noted mountain of our people, we are willing to reopen the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and resume Mt. Geumgangsan tours without any preconditions or price."

He urged the two Koreas to put their power together,... so that no external forces nor sanctions and pressure can get in the way.

On the domestic front, Kim Jong-un emphasized the value of self-reliance and said all possible resources should be mobilized to create an engine for growth.
That... as the regime wraps up its five-year economic development plan in 2020 while difficulties continue due to international sanctions.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.