At the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, leader Kim Jong-un declared that North Korea would redouble efforts to increase the number of nuclear weapons and expand their deployment means and scope. He adopted a hostile tone toward South Korea, branding it the 'most hostile entity,' while leaving conditional overtures for diplomacy with the United States. This dual-track approach underscores Pyongyang's focus on bolstering its nuclear capabilities amid regional tensions.
At the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared that the country would 'redouble efforts to increase the number of nuclear weapons and expand the means and scope of their deployment,' according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. He described the nation's nuclear force as a 'reliable guarantee' of its security and development. Kim outlined an ambitious military modernization blueprint for the new five-year plan, including more advanced land- and submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile systems, artificial intelligence-enabled unmanned strike platforms, anti-satellite capabilities, powerful electronic warfare systems designed to paralyze enemy command structures, and more sophisticated reconnaissance satellites. He placed particular emphasis on the nuclear armament of naval forces to strengthen second-strike capabilities and survivability.
On inter-Korean relations, Kim adopted a hostile tone, branding South Korea as 'the most hostile entity,' declaring it permanently excluded from the category of compatriots, and warning that any action deemed to undermine North Korea's security could trigger retaliatory measures, even raising the specter of the South's 'complete collapse.' Toward the United States, his approach was more calibrated: while reaffirming that North Korea's nuclear status is 'irreversible' and that it would maintain the 'strongest possible' posture toward Washington, he added that if the United States recognizes North Korea's constitutional status as a nuclear-armed state and withdraws its 'hostile policy,' there would be 'no reason' the two countries could not maintain good relations.
This dual-track strategy—nuclear expansion paired with conditional diplomacy—seeks to reshape the negotiating framework by insisting that denuclearization is off the table and pursuing de facto recognition as a nuclear power. South Korea's ambassador to the United States, Kang Kyung-hwa, recently suggested the possibility of a Kim-Trump meeting in Beijing, potentially in April, though no meeting has been confirmed. Kim appears intent on bypassing Seoul in any renewed U.S.-North Korea engagement. U.S.-South Korea coordination and strengthened deterrence are seen as essential to counter Pyongyang's moves.
