North Korea's leader promises 'new strategic weapon,' leaves room for talks

FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in this undated photo released on December 30, 2019 by North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERS

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's leader plans to further develop nuclear programmes and to introduce a "new strategic weapon" in the near future, state media said on Wednesday, although he signalled there was still room for dialogue with the United States.

Kim Jong Un presided over a four-day meeting of top Workers' Party officials this week amid rising tensions with the United States, which has not responded to his repeated calls for concessions to reopen negotiations. Washington has dismissed the deadline as artificial.