It was the first time Kim stated North Korea’s position on the second U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi that collapsed in February, and signalled a continued focus on economic development, a strategic direction officially declared a priority last April.

On North Korea’s position on the summit, Kim said “We must deal a serious blow to the hostile forces who are mistakenly determined to bring us down with sanctions by advancing the socialist construction to a high level of self-reliance that fits our circumstances and state, based on our own power, technology and resources,” according to KCNA.

U.S.-North Korean engagement has appeared to be in limbo since the Feb. 27-28 summit in Hanoi, which collapsed over differences about how far North Korea was willing to limit its nuclear programme and the degree of U.S. willingness to ease economic sanctions.

Kim has continued to highlight his economic push in recent weeks despite the lack of sanctions relief.

State media have published images and reports of Kim’s visits to at least four economic projects in five days over the past week, including a remodelled department store, tourist resorts, and an economic hub near the border with China.

Despite no direct mention of the United States, by linking sanctions with “hostile forces” that impose them Kim is showing a slightly stronger stance toward Washington than was recently in state media, analysts said.

The comments were also reported hours ahead of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Washington on Thursday to discuss North Korea and other alliance issues.

“It did not directly mention the U.S., but linked sanctions with hostile forces,” said Shin Beom-chul, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. “He’s saying North Korea would take an independent course unless the U.S. offered to lift sanctions. You maintain sanctions, you’re a hostile force; if you ease sanctions, you’re not.”

North Korea is expected to convene a session of its rubber-stamp legislature, the Supreme People’s Assembly, on Thursday.

Source: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-northkorea-usa/north-koreas-kim-says-must-deliver-serious-blow-to-those-imposing-sanctions-kcna-idUKKCN1RM2U7?rpc=401&

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The National Assembly of South Korea ratified on Friday a revised free trade agreement between South Korea and the United States that was signed by the leaders of the two countries in September, media reported.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the parliamentary ratification is the final procedure needed for its ratification. In January, the two countries began negotiating ways to revise the original free trade agreement, known as KORUS, which was signed in 2007 and went into effect in 2012.

According to the revised deal, the United States will extend a tariff of 25 percent on imports of Korean pickup trucks by another 20 years. Seoul, on its part, according to the media outlet, with the introduction of new import rules will ease emission standards for cars that will be delivered in the period from 2021 to 2025.

In addition, the two sides agreed to amend the provision relating to the settlement of disputes between investors and the state, and to increase the transparency of procedures for conducting dumping and compensation measures, the publication said.

READ MORE: South Korea Approves $300 Mln Deal to Buy US Missiles for Aegis System

Source: https://sputniknews.com/asia/201812071070497192-south-korea-usa-free-trade-deal/

The post South Korean Parliament Ratifies Free Trade Deal With US – Reports first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.