North Korean leader Kim Jong Un blamed South Korea yesterday 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.