Kim Jong Un, in his end-of-year speech, warned the United States that it has a "nuclear button" on its desk ready for use if North Korea feels threatened, but has offered Korea an olive branch. South, saying it is "open to dialogue" with Seoul.
After a year of fiery rhetoric and growing tensions over North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Kim used his New Year's television speech to call for minor military tensions on the Korean peninsula and improve ties with the South.
"When it comes to North-South relations, we should lower military tensions on the Korean peninsula to create a peaceful environment," Kim said. "Both the North and the South should strive."
Kim said he will consider sending a delegation to the Winter Olympics to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February.
“North Korea's participation in the Winter Games will be a good opportunity to show people's unity and we wish the Games a success. Officials from both Koreas could meet urgently to discuss the possibility, ”Kim said.
South Korea's president Moon Jae-in said that North Korea's participation will guarantee the safety of the Pyeongchang Olympics and proposed last month that Seoul and Washington postpone large military exercises that the North denounces as general evidence for the war until after the Games.
Rather than encouraging US measures that "threaten the security and peace of the Korean peninsula," Seoul should instead respond to openings from the North, Kim said.
A spokesperson for Moon's office said they were still reviewing Kim's New Year's speech.
Reporters asked President Trump to comment on Kim's speech: US President Donald Trump simply said "we'll see, we'll see", as he walked to the New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, his elite resort in Florida.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kim's New Year address.
North Korea tested intercontinental ballistic missiles and conducted the sixth and most powerful nuclear test in September, challenging international warnings and sanctions, raising fears of a new conflict on the Korean peninsula.
After testing what Pyongyang said to be its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), capable of delivering a warhead anywhere in the continental United States, Kim said his nuclear power was complete at the end of November.
He continued this theme in his New Year's speech, announcing that North Korea will focus on "mass production of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles for operational deployment" in the coming year.
What was done, Kim said, made it impossible for the United States to start a war against North Korea.
"All the United States is in range of our nuclear weapons and a nuclear button is always on my desk, this is reality, not a threat," he said, noting that "these weapons will only be used if our safety it will be threatened “.
Kim's usual new year's speech is closely monitored for indications of the political direction that the unpredictable and lonely leader could pursue in the coming year.
In addition to listing military achievements, Kim also outlined the economic benefits as part of his dual policy of developing his country's economy and military.
Despite increasing international sanctions imposed on the arms program, North Korea has made progress in areas such as textiles, shoes and tractors, Kim said.
While Kim is keen to declare the success of his weapons program, it is unlikely to completely finish his quarrelsome test regime, said Scott LaFoy, a ballistic missile analyst at the NK Pro website, which controls North Korea.
"I'm still very skeptical about the 'complete' thing they talked about, if only because we have seen so much activity with the submarine ballistic missile launch program," he said. "I think a slowdown (in testing) is very realistic, though."
It seems likely that Kim will slow weapons testing ahead of the Olympics, said Nam Sung-wook, a North Korean expert at the University of Korea in Seoul.
"What North Korea is most afraid of is being forgotten in the international arena," he said. "Without launching missiles and conducting nuclear tests, North Korea will only be in the spotlight by participating in the Winter Olympics."