North Korea’s Kim at day 3 of ruling party meeting

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for active 'diplomatic and military countermeasures' to preserve the country's security in a lengthy speech at a key political conference possibly meant to legitimise major changes to his nuclear diplomacy with the United States.

Kim spoke for seven hours during the ruling Workers' Party meeting that continued for the third day on Monday.

He issued national goals for rebuilding the North's economy and preparing active and "offensive political, diplomatic and military countermeasures for firmly preserving the sovereignty and security of the country," state media reported on Tuesday.

The Korean Central News Agency said the plenary meeting of the party's Central Committee will extend to the fourth day on Tuesday, a day before Kim is expected to use his annual New Year's address to announce major changes to his economic and security policies.

Some experts believe Kim could use the speech to declare he is suspending his nuclear negotiations with Washington, which have stalemated over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief and disarmament, and he could possibly revive confrontation by lifting a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests.

KCNA did not report any decisions made at the party meeting or mention any specific comment by Kim toward the United States.

But it said Kim noted that the Workers' Party is determined to enter "another arduous and protracted struggle," possibly referring to efforts to overcome US-led sanctions and pressure, before concluding his speech with calls for "dynamically opening the road" toward building a powerful socialist nation.