North Korea has one question for the United States: Naughty or nice?

The North delivered an ominous warning to Washington on Tuesday, saying that it is "up to the U.S. what Christmas gift it will select" as a year-end deadline for a "new approach" by the White House to stalled nuclear talks grows ever closer.

"Drawing nearer is the year-end time limit the DPRK set for the U.S.," Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Thae Song said in a statement, referring to the North's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.