North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un proposed the "highest-level" talks with South Korea Thursday, opening the way to a historic summit as his communist country battles to fend off international prosecution over its dismal human rights record. The sudden move, made during his traditional New Year message, would clear the path for the first top-level inter- Korean meeting since a 2007 meeting in Pyongyang. South Korean media said he was referring to a summit with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye. Kim also urged Washington to take a "bold shift" in its policy towards Pyongyang and denounced the US for leading an international campaign over the North's human rights record.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un
proposed the "highest-level" talks
with South Korea Thursday,
opening the way to a historic
summit as his communist country
battles to fend off international
prosecution over its dismal human
rights record. The sudden move,
made during his traditional New
Year message, would clear the
path for the first top-level inter-
Korean meeting since a 2007
meeting in Pyongyang. South
Korean media said he was referring
to a summit with South Korean
President Park Geun-Hye. Kim also
urged Washington to take a "bold
shift" in its policy towards
Pyongyang and denounced the US
for leading an international
campaign over the North's human
rights record.