North Korea leader 'could look to bring McDonald's and a Trump-branded hotel to Pyongyang to secure security and investment' at summit
- North Korean officials said the isolated regime wants to modernise its economy
- They said the North wants to become a 'normal country' at a dinner in April
- A South Korean official who was there said the North wants US investment
- Asked for examples of US sponsors, he cited McDonald's and a Trump Tower
Could the prospect of a Big Mac be all it takes to convince Kim Jong-un to curtail his nuclear ambitions? North Korean officials said the isolated regime wants to modernise its economy and become a 'normal country' during a dinner that followed the recent historic summit between Kim and South Korean president Moon Jae-in.
Chung-in Moon, a special adviser to president Moon who attended the dinner in April, recently revealed that North Korea wants American investments to deliver a boost to the nation's economy. US companies establishing operations in Pyongchang would also provide a guarantee to North Korea's security.
'They want to be a normal country, a normal state, to be recognised by the United States,' Chung-in told CNN International. 'They welcome American sponsors and multilateral consortiums coming into North Korea.'
Asked for examples, Chung-in suggested McDonald's and a Trump-branded tower as examples of what would be 'modern' in North Korea. However, such investments would be near impossible unless economic sanctions against the North are lifted.
But last month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US is prepared to offer North Korea security assurances and bountiful private investment if it makes the strategic choice to give up its nuclear weapons. (Read More)
