KIM CHANGES BELLICOSE APPROACH AS COUNTRY FACES FOOD, FUEL CATASTROPHE

Dictator Kim Jong Un has said North Korea should be ready for negotiations with the U.S., striking an unusually conciliatory note amid an economic crisis that has led to dire shortages of fuel and food.

Discussions at a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party reportedly focused on finding solutions to the lack of basic imported foodstuffs, prices of which have rocketed since the border with China was closed as a COVID restriction in January.

Kim's latest comments have been interpreted as a sign he will change tack from his usually bellicose approach to Washington.

“The North has exhausted its means of pressuring the U.S. and South Korea,” said Rah Jong-yil, an ex-diplomat and head of the South Korean intelligence department charged with monitoring North Korea. “They can keep spending money they don't really have on more warheads (but) the people cannot eat nuclear weapons.”