SEOUL, South Korea _ The year 2018 was full of surprises by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, from his decision to prioritize economic growth over weapons development to his handshake with U.S. President Donald Trump.
But close observers would have seen clues to Kim's policy shifts in his annual New Year's Day address to the North Korean people. The events underscore the importance _ and difficulty _ in interpreting the speech, which often contains a few consequential changes buried in several thousands of words of propaganda-laden prose.
This New Year's Day, Kim could signal whether the U.S. and North Korea will continue with their rapprochement or drift back toward confrontation. To help parse his words, here's a brief guide to what to watch:
