World Leaders Are Reflecting On The Last 12 Months; , Kim Jong-Un Has Seemingly Transformed His Image This Year From A Nuclear Tyrant To Something Of A Global Statesman.
LU STOUT: Welcome back. Now world leaders are ushering in 2019 with their hopes for the year to come, among them the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in a letter to President Trump, Mr. Putin says that he is, quote, "open to dialogue with the U.S.," adding that Russian-American relations are essential to international security. The letter comes after President Trump canceled a planned meeting with his Russian counterpart at last month's G-20 meeting after Ukraine said Russian forces opened fire on its naval ships. And Chinese President Xi Jinping up has wrapped up his address. In it, he says that the world is facing a period of a major change never seen in a century and that his country will defend its sovereignty and security. He also thanked Chinese workers and outlined 2018's achievements and fresh goals for next year. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a warm personal letter to South Korea's Moon Jae-in sharing hopes for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. According to Mr. Moon's office, Kim said the three face-to-face meetings between the two leaders showed a bold effort to overcome the long standing Korean conflict. On his social media account, President Moon said, "If we meet together with sincerity, there is nothing we cannot achieve." Now, Kim Jong-un has seemingly transformed his image this year from a nuclear tyrant to something of a global statesman. Now, as Will Ripley reports the world is waiting to see what Kim has in store for 2019.</s>WILL RIPLEY, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN (voice-over): North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's surreal year began seemingly on the brink of war, battered by sanctions over his nuclear program, a defiant Kim refused to back down, ordering the mass production of nuclear weapons in his New Year's speech, warning that he was not afraid to use them. The speech came weeks after Kim test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon believed to be capable of striking the mainland U.S. It was an ominous message to President Donald Trump. After months of "fire and fury" rhetoric and the growing threat of military conflict...</s>DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself.</s>RIPLEY (voice-over): But the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea provided a rare diplomatic opening. Kim sent his younger sister with a message to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, "Let's talk." In April, the first inter-Korean summit in more than a decade, a made for TV meeting and a chance for Kim to project a surprising new image, from dangerous dictator to smiling statesman. Until this year, the 30-something leader had never even met another head of state. Almost overnight, a whirlwind of diplomacy, from smiling photos with Chinese President Xi Jinping to this historic summit in Singapore, the first ever meeting between a sitting U.S. President and North Korean leader.</s>TRUMP: I was really being tough and so was he, we would go back and forth. And then we fell in love, okay? No, really, he wrote me beautiful letters. I just showed a letter ...</s>RIPLEY (voice-over): But letters can only go so far. Denuclearization talks have stalled. Tensions with the U.S. are rising. And North Korea is believed to be quietly expanding its nuclear program. All of it raising the stakes for a planned second summit with Trump and Kim early next year. In 12 short months, a surreal transformation for Kim, from global pariah to the global spotlight, all without giving up a single nuclear weapon. But he will begin 2019 locked in a diplomatic standoff with the U.S., sanctions still crippling North Korea's economy. Kim Jong-un's biggest test may lie ahead. Will Ripley, CNN.</s>LU STOUT: And as 2018 comes to an end, South Korea is also saying goodbye to the use of disposable plastic bags in supermarkets. The new law takes effect on January 1, it will affect up to 13,000 stores. Supermarkets will be required to offer customers an alternative like paper bags or reusable cloth bags. You're watching "CNN Newsroom" and up next, New Year in New York City.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year.</s>LU STOUT: The countdown to the legendary Times Square countdown is well under way. Miguel Marquez is very much keeping his eye on that iconic crystal ball and the preps.</s>MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Hi, New York, New York, a city so great they had to name it twice, they are preparing for the big party. We will be right back with all of the details about those preparations for that massive celebration.