SEOUL, South Korea — During the conclusion of a major ruling party gathering, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared his nuclear-equipped nation has the capability to “completely destroy” South Korea should its security face threats, according to state media reports released Thursday. While maintaining his hardline stance against Seoul, Kim signaled potential openness to renewed discussions with Washington as he outlined policy objectives for the coming five years.
According to state media reports, Kim also emphasized expanding his military’s weapons capabilities, specifically calling for the creation of submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles and a broader collection of tactical nuclear weapons, including artillery and short-range missiles designed to target South Korea.
The North Korean leader stated that his country’s rapid nuclear and missile development has “permanently cemented” its position as a nuclear weapons state, while demanding the United States abandon what he views as “hostile” policies toward his nation before any diplomatic talks can resume.
The Workers’ Party gathering, which started last Thursday in Pyongyang, occurs as Kim establishes a more aggressive regional stance, utilizing his growing nuclear military capabilities and strengthening ties with Moscow that have intensified tensions with both Washington and Seoul.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that North Korea conducted a military parade in the capital Wednesday as the congress concluded, marking Kim’s third such gathering after previous ones in 2016 and 2021.
Kim’s statements during the congress were widely expected, as he has adopted increasingly aggressive positions toward South Korea throughout 2024, abandoning the North’s historical pursuit of peaceful reunification between the divided Koreas and designating the South as a permanent adversary. However, analysts predicted Kim would maintain a more cautious approach toward Washington to keep future diplomatic possibilities alive, ultimately seeking sanctions relief and implicit acceptance as a nuclear state.
Kim has recently focused on strengthening ties with Russia, deploying thousands of soldiers and substantial military equipment to assist Moscow’s Ukraine conflict, likely receiving aid and military technology in return. Experts suggest maintaining flexibility makes strategic sense as the Ukraine war could conclude, potentially reducing North Korea’s value to Moscow.
In his congress summary, Kim stated his administration maintained the “toughest stance” toward Washington, but noted there was “no reason we cannot get along” with Americans if they abandoned their allegedly “hostile policy” toward the North. North Korea frequently uses this terminology to describe U.S.-led pressure and sanctions targeting Kim’s nuclear program. His remarks reflected North Korea’s established position demanding Washington drop denuclearization requirements before resuming negotiations.
North Korea has consistently refused Washington and Seoul’s diplomatic overtures aimed at dismantling its nuclear program, which stalled in 2019 after Kim’s second summit with then-U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed during his initial presidency.
The future of U.S.-North Korea relations “depends entirely on the U.S. attitude,” Kim stated. “Whether it’s peaceful coexistence or permanent confrontation, we are ready for either, and the choice is not ours to make.”
