By Rosemary
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to permanently secure his country’s position as a nuclear-armed state, signaling a continued hard-line posture toward regional rivals while leaving limited room for potential engagement with the United States.
In a speech delivered Monday before the nation’s parliament, Kim described South Korea as the “most hostile” state and reaffirmed his government’s intent to confront what he characterized as mounting external threats. His remarks, reported Tuesday by state media, underscored a strategic shift in Pyongyang’s policy that increasingly treats Seoul not as a partner for reconciliation but as a principal adversary.
Kim also directed sharp criticism at the United States, accusing Washington of engaging in what he called “state terrorism and aggression,” an apparent reference to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Despite the pointed rhetoric, he stopped short of naming U.S. President Donald Trump directly and struck a measured tone regarding future relations, stating that the choice between confrontation and coexistence rests with Washington. He added that North Korea is prepared to respond accordingly, regardless of the path chosen.
The speech echoed themes from a recent congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, where Kim sharply criticized Seoul while signaling conditional openness to dialogue with the United States. He reiterated that any negotiations would require Washington to abandon its longstanding demand for North Korea’s nuclear disarmament as a precondition.
During the same parliamentary session, the Supreme People’s Assembly approved revisions to the national constitution, though officials did not disclose specific details. Observers had anticipated amendments that would formally designate South Korea as a permanent enemy and remove language reflecting shared national identity, aligning with Kim’s declaration in 2024 that Pyongyang would abandon its decades-long objective of peaceful reunification with the South.
Analysts say Kim’s increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Seoul reflects a reassessment of its role in regional diplomacy. Once instrumental in facilitating high-profile summits between Kim and Trump in 2018 and 2019, South Korea is now viewed by Pyongyang as an impediment rather than a bridge to Washington. At the same time, Kim has intensified efforts to curb the influence of South Korean culture within the North, tightening internal controls as part of a broader push to reinforce regime authority.
In his address, Kim highlighted what he described as rapid advancements in North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities, portraying them as essential safeguards against external pressure and “hegemonic” ambitions by foreign powers. He framed the expansion of the country’s arsenal as a necessary and justified response to perceived threats.
“The dignity of the nation and its ultimate victory can only be secured through the strongest power,” he said, vowing to further solidify what he called the country’s “irreversible” nuclear status. He added that Pyongyang would continue to counter hostile actions and respond forcefully to any perceived provocations.
Diplomatic engagement between North Korea and the United States has remained stalled since the collapse of Kim’s second summit with Trump in 2019, which ended without agreement over sanctions relief and denuclearization steps. Since then, Pyongyang has largely disengaged from talks with both Washington and Seoul.
In recent months, Kim has shifted his foreign policy focus toward closer ties with Russia, providing military support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Reports indicate that North Korea has sent troops and significant quantities of military equipment, potentially in exchange for economic assistance and advanced weapons technology.
With the trajectory of the conflict in Ukraine uncertain, analysts believe Kim may be positioning his country to maintain flexibility in its diplomatic options. By moderating his tone toward Washington, he could seek to preserve the possibility of future negotiations aimed at easing international sanctions and gaining implicit recognition of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
However, shifting global dynamics may complicate those calculations. Some experts suggest that recent military actions involving the United States and Israel against Iran, including the killing of a senior Iranian leader, could further harden Pyongyang’s موقف and raise the threshold for any renewed dialogue with Washington.
Separately, North Korean state media reported that Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, has accepted an invitation to visit Pyongyang. No timetable for the այց has been announced, but the planned trip highlights North Korea’s continued efforts to deepen ties with a small group of sympathetic partners amid its ongoing international isolation.
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