N. Korea’s Kim says open to ’highest - level’ talks with South

The sudden move comes with his pariah state battling to fend off international prosecution over its dismal human rights record, and would clear the path for the first inter - Korean summit since a ۲۰۰۷ meeting in Pyongyang.

" Depending on the mood and circumstances to be created, we have no reason not to hold the highest - level talks, " Kim said, calling for a turnaround in strained relations between the two Koreas, which are technically at war.

South Korean media said he was referring to a summit with South Korean President Park Geun - Hye.

Kim also urged Washington to take a " bold shift " in its policy towards Pyongyang and denounced the US for leading an international campaign over the North’s human rights record.

" The US and its followers are holding on to a nasty ’human rights’ racket as their schemes to destroy our self - defensive nuclear deterrent and stifle our republic by force become unrealisable, " Kim said.

He described nuclear weapons, meanwhile, as the guardian of his country and vowed to sternly retaliate against " any provocations " threatening its dignity and sovereignty.

Pyongyang faces growing pressure to improve its dismal human rights record, with the UN stepping up a campaign to refer the North’s leaders to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

The isolated nation, meanwhile, suffered a mysterious Internet outage last month after Washington vowed retaliation over a crippling cyber attack blamed on North Korea against Sony, the studio behind a controversial film about a fictional plot to assassinate Kim.

There was no immediate reaction from South Korea, but a US State Department official said: ‎ " We support improved inter - Korean relations. ‎ "

Kim said in his message that Pyongyang " will make every effort to advance dialogue and negotiations ", adding that the " tragic " division of the Korean peninsula should not be tolerated.

The leader’s tone was generally conciliatory, but he made it clear that South Korea should end its joint military exercises with the United States.

- Offer of talks -

The message came days after Ryoo Kihl - Jae, the South’s unification minister in charge of inter - Korean affairs, offered to hold high - level talks with North Korea in January.

The last round of formal top - level negotiations between the neighbours was held in February and resulted in the North hosting a rare union of relatives separated by the conflict.

The two Koreas agreed to restart dialogue when a top - ranking North Korean delegation made a surprise visit to the Asian Games held in the South in October.

The unusual trip raised hopes of a thaw in relations between the neighbours, but was followed by minor military clashes along the border that renewed tensions and talks never materialised.

Park, who came to office in early ۲۰۱۳, has repeatedly said the door to dialogue with Pyongyang is open, but insists the North must first take tangible steps towards abandoning its nuclear weapons programme.

Analysts said Kim was extending an olive branch after realising that Pyongyang could not end its isolation without improving ties with Seoul.

" North Korea opted for a practical line after facing up to reality, because it is now difficult to improve ties with the United States and other countries, " Yoo Ho - yeol, a Korea University professor, said.

Kim’s annual New Year message, which is regarded as setting the direction of policy for the coming year, also focused on improving living standards in North Korea, which suffers chronic food shortages.

When his father and late leader, Kim Jong - Il, died in December ۲۰۱۱, he left a country in dire economic straits, the result of a " military first " policy that fed ambitious missile and nuclear programmes at the expense of a malnourished population.

But Kim also urged North Koreans to work to strengthen the country’s military capabilities through the development of " powerful advanced " weapons.

Under his leadership, North Korea has placed a satellite in orbit and last year conducted its third - - and most powerful - - nuclear test.