Kim Jong-Un threatens to 'totally destroy' South Korea and rules out any reconciliation, but leaves door ajar for US
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said his country could “completely destroy” South Korea if its security was threatened, while reiterating its refusal to cooperate with Seoul. The statements were made during the Congress of the Workers' Party, the party in power in Pyongyang, according to reports picked up by Euronews.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump. PHOTO: Getty Images
north korea “has absolutely no interest in dealing with South Korea, the entity most hostile to it, and will permanently exclude South Korea from the category of compatriots”, said Kim.
He added that as long as the South “he can't escape the geopolitical conditions of having a border with us, the only way to live safely is to give up everything related to us and leave us alone.”
Tough rhetoric towards Seoul, calculated strategy
In recent years, the Pyongyang leader has stepped up his hostile rhetoric toward Seoul and consistently rejected the idea of resuming inter-Korean diplomacy. Experts appreciate, however, that the statements do not necessarily indicate a preparation for an imminent military conflict, but rather are part of a wider strategy to strengthen the regional position of the regime, supported by the North Korean nuclear arsenal and the increasingly close relations with Moscow and Beijing.
Conditional message to Washington
Alongside the verbal attacks on Seoul, Kim sent a more nuanced message to Washington. According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North Korean leader said relations with the US could be improved if Washington recognizes the country's nuclear status.
If the US “respects our country's current (nuclear) status as stipulated in the Constitution … and withdraws its hostile policy … there is no reason why we cannot have good relations with the United States,” Kim said.
He stressed that the outlook for bilateral relations “depends entirely on the attitude of the US” and warned that Pyongyang is ready “both for peaceful coexistence and permanent confrontation.”
The statements come amid speculation that US President Donald Trump could request a new meeting with the North Korean leader in the context of a possible visit to China. We remind you that negotiations between the two failed in 2019, after the collapse of the second bilateral summit during Trump's first term.
New weapons and show of force
KCNA also reported that Kim called for the development of new weapons systems to strengthen the military's nuclear capabilities, including submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles and expanding the arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, such as artillery and short-range missiles, capable of hitting targets in South Korea.
The Workers' Party Congress, the country's most important political event, began last week in Pyongyang and ended with a military parade held in the capital, similar to those held in 2016 and 2021. At the event, Kim was accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to be around 13 years old and has been making frequent appearances at official events.
Approaching Russia and strategic calculations
Recently, Pyongyang has prioritized its relationship with Moscow, sending thousands of troops and significant amounts of military equipment to support Russia's war in Ukraine, possibly in exchange for military assistance and technology.
Analysts, however, believe that the North Korean regime is keeping its options open, in the context in which a possible end to the conflict in Ukraine could diminish the strategic importance of North Korea for Russia.
In this tense climate, the message sent from Pyongyang is clear: the break with Seoul is total, and the opening to Washington remains strictly conditional on the recognition of the nuclear status of Kim Jong-Un's regime.
