South Korea predicted on Tuesday that North Korea would look to open negotiations with the United States over its weapons programs next year and pursue at least some rapprochement with Seoul in an optimistic government outlook for 2018.
The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new, tougher sanctions on North Korea on Friday for its recent intercontinental ballistic missile test, a move the North branded an economic blockade and act of war.
"North Korea will seek negotiation with the United States, while continuing to pursue its effort to be recognized as a de facto nuclear-possessing country," South Korea's Unification Ministry said in a report, without offering any reasons for its conclusion.