United States waits to see what Kim's 'Christmas gift' will be

Brief encounter: Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un meet at the Korean border. Photo: Susan Walsh/AP

Nick Waldhams

ALL year, US President Donald Trump refused to respond as North Korea carried out short-range missile tests and chipped away at crippling international sanctions. He even ignored a new volley of insults branding him a "heedless and erratic old man".

That restraint may not last much longer as North Korea hints darkly that it will make a major move by the end of this month, possibly including a long-range missile launch or a nuclear bomb test as a "Christmas gift" to the US.