Under pressure at home, Kim sets hard tone with US

North Korean leader seeks to shore up support as economy weakens

20190414 North Korea Kim Jong Un Speech

In this image made from a video taken on Apr.12, by North Korean broadcaster KRT, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers his speech at parliament in Pyongyang. © AP

YOSUKE ONCHI and TSUYOSHI NAGASAWA, Nikkei staff writer

SEOUL/WASHINGTON -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken a hard line with the U.S., setting a deadline for talks and demanding an easing of sanctions in a move likely designed to shore up support at home.

In a rare address to the country's rubber-stamp legislature, Kim said the window for dialogue would close within a year if the U.S. does not offer concessions on sanctions related to the Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. While he said he was "ready" to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump again, he refused to offer any specific concessions or compromise on his end.

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