North Korean leader Kim Jong Un discussed strengthening his country’s military capability with top military officials, state media reported on Sunday, with Pyongyang’s end-of-year deadline for the US to offer concessions approaching.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un discussed strengthening his country’s military capability with top military officials, state media reported on Sunday, with Pyongyang’s end-of-year deadline for the US to offer concessions approaching.

The North promised an ominous “Christmas gift” earlier this month if Washington does not give ground by the end of December.The denuclearisation process has been largely deadlocked since the collapse of a summit in Hanoi at the start of the year. Pyongyang has carried out a series of static tests at its Sohae rocket facility this month, after a number of weapons launches in recent weeks some of them described as ballistic missiles by Japan and others. North Korea is banned from carrying out such tests under UN sanctions.

Kim held an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission, for which he serves as chairman.