North Korea proposes talks if South Korea lifts hostility

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, has said the country is willing to resume talks with South Korea if it lifts hostility on her country (Jorge Silva/Pool Photo via AP, File)

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said her country is willing to resume talks with South Korea if conditions are met, indicating it wants Seoul to persuade Washington to relax crippling economic sanctions.

Kim Yo Jong’s statement came days after North Korea performed its first missile tests in six months, which some experts said were intended to show it will keep boosting its weapons arsenal if the US-led sanctions continue while nuclear diplomacy remains stalled.