Pyongyang said it is up to the United States to choose which “Christmas gift” it will receive as North Korea’s self-imposed deadline for a deal approaches.
It did not specify what the deal was for, though North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has demanded broadened sanctions relief in return for surrendering aspects of its nuclear program.
Ri Thae Song, a vice foreign minister handling U.S. affairs, told state-run media that Washington has been trying to buy time on a deal instead of offering North Korea anything new or substantial during discussions, according to the Associated Press.
“The dialogue touted by the U.S. is, in essence, nothing but a foolish trick hatched to keep [North Korea] bound to dialogue and use it in favor of the political situation and election in the U.S.,” Ri said.
“What is left to be done now is the U.S. option, and it is entirely up to the U.S. what Christmas gift it will select to get,” Ri added.
Last month, North Korea said it was not interested in a “fruitless summit” with the U.S. Foreign Ministry adviser Kim Kye-gwan said the U.S. has not offered anything of substance during negotiations and didn’t want President Trump to score political points by holding a summit.
As recently as Thursday, North Korea conducted a short-range missile test, firing two projectiles off and stoking the ire of neighboring countries such as South Korea and Japan. Kim’s regime has tested short-range missiles multiple times since the last time he and Trump met earlier this year.
Kim has threatened that his country would take a “new path” if the U.S. doesn’t ease sanctions. North Korea has also warned that it could lift a moratorium on long-range missile and nuclear tests.
