North Korea Releases Statement Promising "Christmas Present"

Kim Jong-un made another to the symbolic Mount Paektu, while North Korean officials alluded to a “Christmas present” in official statements. (Kremlin)

North Korea has released a cryptic message indicating that the U.S. will soon receive a “Christmas present,” igniting intense speculation and reviving fears of missile tests, which followed similar rhetoric in 2017.

In a separate incident, Kim Jong-un once again mounted a white horse and rode up sacred Mount Paektu, the second such trip he has taken since October.

In a statement released by the North’s state news agency, a top official, Ri Thae Song, called U.S.-North Korea dialogue on nuclear disarmament “nothing but a foolish trick hatched to keep the DPRK bound to dialogue and use it in favor of the political situation and election in the U.S.,” a reference to the potential use of such denuclearization talks as evidence of diplomatic success in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Ri added that “it is entirely up to the U.S. what Christmas gift it will select to get.”

Similar rhetoric preceded extensive test-launching of missiles by the North in the summer of 2017, which it called a “gift” to the U.S on its independence day. Those tests led to months of extreme tension between the two countries; this tension has since subsided substantially. However, the North’s latest statements may ratchet it back up and have prompted much speculation as to Kim’s intentions.

As his officials gave statements alluding to gifts, Kim himself took another horseback ride up the slopes of Mount Paektu, a place with legendary significance to all Koreans and of special importance to the Kim regime, whose founder allegedly used it as a base from which to fight Japanese invaders. Such rides have preceded major announcements in the past, but in this particular instance it is more likely that Kim was simply visiting the area and decided to make a detour.

Whether or not Kim’s ride portends anything, his officials’ statements are very likely to upset the fragile detente on the peninsula. Even if Kim does not make good on his threats, their pall is almost certain to hang over any future attempts to negotiate for denuclearization.