Kim Jong-un CAVES to US demands to INSPECT North Korea nuclear complex

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported the reclusive leader is willing to allow inspectors into the complex, with a diplomatic source confirming the audit has been given the nod.The senior level source, referring to Kim and South Korea’s leader Jae-in Moon, said: “I understand that Chairman Kim told President Moon during their summit in September that if the US took corresponding steps he would not only be willing to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facilities but also allow verification.” The source said President Moon passed the message onto US President Donald Trump when the two met during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York in September. Kim had earlier expressed openness to shutting down the site if Washington took “corresponding” measures, but at the time he refused to offer inspectors inside.

The US has stressed the importance of the inspection as Mr Trump negotiates with North Korea about denuclearisation.

Kim’s willingness comes at a time of further discontent in North Korea after a defector claimed the regime is plagued by food shortages.

Defector Oh Chong-song, who was 24 when he escaped the state in November 2017, said “80 percent” of people his age feel “indifferent” towards the leadership in Pyongyang.

He said chronic shortages of food and supplies are still widespread across the hermit kingdom, adding: “If you don’t have money or power, you die in a ditch.”

He survived his heroic escape despite being shot five times after collapsing on the South side of the Korean border.

South Koreans dragged him to safety, with doctors discovering he was infested with parasites.

Oh said he worked as a police officer before joining the military but described how corruption was rampant in the regime as individuals were forced to take whatever opportunities they could in order to survive.

He said failure to provide the population with essentials is having a major impact on trust in the leadership.

He said: “People my age, about 80 percent of them are indifferent and they don’t feel loyal towards Kim.

“Not being able to feed the people properly, but the hereditary succession keeps going on — that results in indifference and no loyalty.”

And Kim has recently lashed out at the US after sanctions imposed by Mr Trump stopped him from building a Costa Blanca-style beach resort to attract tourists to his impoverished country.

He said: “The hostile forces are foolishly keen on vicious sanctions to stand in our way.”