Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated that his country's status as a nuclear-armed state "will never change" while formally recognizing South Korea as the 'most hostile nation,' state media reported Tuesday. In a speech Monday during the first session of the newly elected 15th Supreme People's Assembly, Kim vowed to further advance North Korea's "defensive nuclear deterrence" and maintain a "prompt and precise" response posture for its nuclear forces to address "strategic threats" to national and regional security.
According to Anadolu Agency, Kim emphasized North Korea's commitment to solidifying its nuclear weapons status and expressed intentions to aggressively counter any provocations by hostile forces. He issued a stark warning to South Korea of "merciless consequences" if it engages in actions perceived as provocations by Pyongyang. The Korean Central News Agency reported Kim's declaration of South Korea as the most hostile nation, which North Korea intends to ignore and disregard.
Reacting to Kim's remarks, South Korea's presidential office reiterated its commitment to "peaceful coexistence" with Pyongyang, viewing dialogue and cooperation as the pathway to safety and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. Yonhap news agency quoted a senior presidential official expressing that hostile rhetoric hinders peaceful coexistence, urging for a focus on dialogue instead.
The constitutional aspect of North Korea's stance was also highlighted, with expectations of a legal revision in 2024 to define South Korea as "the No. 1 hostile country." This follows North Korea's constitutional call for peaceful reunification of the two Koreas. Additionally, Kim accused the US of global 'state terrorism and aggression,' referencing conflicts in the Middle East, and signaled Pyongyang's intention to join a united front against Washington.
While Kim did not specifically mention US President Donald Trump, he stated that the choice between confrontation and peaceful coexistence lies with his adversaries, asserting North Korea's readiness to respond accordingly. An official at Seoul's Unification Ministry noted the duality in Kim's remarks, highlighting North Korea's preparedness for both confrontation and peaceful coexistence. The official reaffirmed South Korea's policy of seeking improved relations with North Korea, emphasizing ongoing efforts to achieve this goal.