SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is “starting to respect” the United States, President Donald J. Trump declared, even as Pyongyang revealed plans for its missile development Wednesday and Mr. Kim ordered a production boost.

Mr. Trump’s remarks, at a rally in Phoenix, came hours after Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said talks with the nuclear-armed North over its banned weapons programs might be possible “in the near future.”

The comments are a marked contrast to the rhetoric of recent weeks, when Mr. Trump spoke of raining “fire and fury” on the North, and come as tensions have eased after Mr. Kim pulled back from a plan to send a salvo of missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam.

But Washington also imposed new sanctions on Chinese and Russian firms suspected of doing business with the North.

Pyongyang, meanwhile, revealed significant technological advances in its missile programs and ambitious plans to further improve its capabilities.

On a visit to the Chemical Material Institute of the Academy of Defense Science, Mr. Kim ordered stepped-up production of rocket engines and intercontinental ballistic missile nosecones, state media reported.

At a campaign-style rally in Phoenix, Mr. Trump said his aggressive rhetoric was starting to bear fruit.

“Some people said it was too strong. It’s not strong enough,” he told thousands of supporters. “But Kim Jong-Un, I respect the fact that I believe he is starting to respect us. I respect that fact very much.”

“And maybe, probably not, but maybe something positive can come about.”

Earlier Mr. Tillerson acknowledged Pyongyang’s recent “restraint” in not carrying out fresh nuclear or missile tests in response to tough new United Nations sanctions, the seventh set imposed on it.

“I am pleased to see that the regime in Pyongyang has certainly demonstrated some level of restraint that we’ve not seen in the past,” Mr. Tillerson said at a rare press conference, adding that talks may be possible “in the near future.”

US officials told AFP that Mr. Tillerson was not thanking Pyongyang, nor making any concession on Washington’s determination to halt Mr. Kim’s missile program and negotiate the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

The Trump administration’s rhetoric has been highly variable but Washington has said it would be open to dialogue if Pyongyang took steps to calm tensions.

Tensions between North Korea and the United States and its allies soared last month after Pyongyang tested two missiles that appeared to bring most of the US mainland within range.

Pyongyang has made rapid technological strides under Mr. Kim, and released pictures Wednesday of a visit by him to the Chemical Material Institute of the Academy of Defense Science, which develops the North’s missiles.

Analysts said the images revealed major advances and ambitions. — AFP

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