BREAKING NEWS

North Korea's Kim blames South for mistrust in New Year speech

By REUTERS

JANUARY 1, 2016 07:58

Updated: JANUARY 1, 2016 07:59

SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un blamed South Korea on Friday for increased mistrust in a New Year speech after a year of heightened tension between the rival countries.

The speech was Kim's fourth since becoming leader in 2011 when his father, Kim Jong Il, died, sparking a long and turbulent succession process marked by several bloody purges in the isolated country.

"South Korea has made a unilateral case for unification and increased mistrust and conflict between us," Kim said during a 30-minute long address, broadcast on North Korean television, highlighting its suspicion of the South's unification policies.

Kim said in last year's speech he would be open to a summit with Seoul but tension surged in August after a landmine blast on their border wounded two South Korean soldiers. The South blamed the North which denied responsibility.

The two sides met for talks in August after a sustained military stand-off and agreed to reduce tension and hold further talks at vice-ministerial level, although subsequent negotiations have been fruitless.

On Wednesday, North Korean state media said its top negotiator with the South, Kim Yang Gon, had been killed in a traffic accident.

"We should cherish last year's high-level talks and make continued efforts to seek dialog and not take any further steps backwards," Kim Jong Un said of the August negotiations, adding that he would be open to talks with anyone to discuss "peaceful unification."

Applause was played at various points throughout what appeared to be a pre-recorded message.

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