"It is the unwavering wish of our party and of the republic, as well as my firm determination, to establish new relations between North Korea and the United States and to head toward complete denuclearization," said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in his New Year's address on January 1. Chairman Kim also said, "If the U.S. takes credible measures and responds to our proactive and preemptive efforts with corresponding action, it (relations between North Korea and the U.S.) will make progress at a rapid pace." We welcome the chairman's New Year's message, which clearly stated his intention to pursue complete denuclearization of and permanent peace on the Korean peninsula, as well as his pursuit of economic development.

The New Year's address by a North Korean leader is an absolute guideline that expresses the direction of the nation’s state and foreign affairs for that year. This year, Chairman Kim announced his firm determination for denuclearization and stated the restoration of relations with the U.S. as the nation's top priority. This is also the first time that the North Korean leader personally mentioned "complete denuclearization" to the citizens of North Korea. "I declared to the nation and to the world that we would no longer produce or test nuclear weapons, that we would no longer use or spread nuclear weapons, and we have taken various practical measures," he added. The chairman mentioned the "four no's" concerning nuclear weapons--no tests, production, use, and proliferation--and presented to the nation his state policy to concentrate on economic development through denuclearization. He mentioned that he would have no choice but to seek a new path if the U.S. continued to put pressure on North Korea, but at the same time, he also said, "I am ready to sit down with the U.S. president any time." This clearly conveyed his willingness to hold a second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and resolve the nuclear issue.

As for South Korea, the chairman expressed his willingness to unconditionally resume inter-Korean projects, such as the Kaesong Industrial Complex and tourism of Mount Kumgang. In other words, he plans to fully launch inter-Korean economic cooperation, since the two Koreas significantly reduced the threats of war on the Korean peninsula last year. In line with these wishes, Chairman Kim also assessed the agreements signed during the inter-Korean summits as "de facto inviolable declarations" and suggested that the two Koreas discuss a switch to a peace system. This day, the chairman calmly presented his New Year's address for over thirty minutes, in a relaxed atmosphere, seated on a sofa in his reception room. He appeared along with his close aides, including Kim Yo-jong, first deputy director of the Workers' Party of Korea, and made an effort to present North Korea as a normal state with such drastic changes.

The problem is how North Korea and the United States will be able to end the stalemate in negotiations and come up with actual results concerning denuclearization measures in the first half of the year. Since North Korea clearly expressed its willingness to dismantle nuclear weapons, it is now the U.S.'s turn to respond. Rather than just question North Korea's willingness to get rid of its nuclear weapons, the U.S. should actively engage in negotiations. The Democratic Party, which recently dominated the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, is trying to keep President Trump in check. The U.S. should take a bipartisan approach, regardless of domestic politics, and work to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. South Korea's role remains critical. For North Korea to pursue economic development, it needs the U.S. to lift sanctions on the country. North Korea probably mentioned the Kaesong Industrial Complex and tourism of Mount Kumgang to prompt South Korea to persuade the U.S. and the international community to lift the sanctions. South Korea has a lot to do, such as ease sanctions on North Korea and support talks between North Korea and the U.S., as it steadily promotes the linking of inter-Korean railways and roads and the easing of military tensions between the two Koreas. If senior-level discussions between North Korea and the U.S., the second summit, and actual denuclearization measures by North Korea are not implemented smoothly in the first half of this year, it will be difficult to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. North and South Korea and the United States should not miss this hard won opportunity.