North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made clear at the recent party congress that he intends not only to establish North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state but to actively exercise that status. Plans were also revealed for next-generation weapons including nuclear-powered submarines, submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), artificial intelligence-based drones, and reconnaissance satellites. The message signals that Pyongyang will treat its nuclear capabilities as a precondition rather than a subject for negotiation, and will explicitly demand recognition as a nuclear power in any future talks with the United States.
According to the Korean Central News Agency on January 26, Kim presented a new five-year national defense plan at the party congress held from January 19 to 25, reaffirming his commitment to strengthening nuclear forces. He stated that "the state's nuclear force is the fundamental guarantee and powerful safety mechanism that reliably ensures the nation's security, interests, and right to development," adding that North Korea would "strengthen national nuclear forces annually, increase the number of nuclear weapons, and expand the means of nuclear operation and spheres of utilization." This indicates plans to both increase nuclear warhead production and advance delivery systems including ground-, sea-, and submarine-launched ICBMs.
Kim placed particular emphasis on nuclearizing naval forces. The news agency reported that Kim "attached very important significance to renewing the navy's operational capabilities, centering on the nuclearization of naval surface and underwater forces." This is interpreted as a reference to the nuclear-powered submarine whose hull was first revealed in December last year.
Kim declared that "strengthening the state's nuclear force and thoroughly exercising the status of a nuclear-armed state is the unwavering will of our party." This signals intent to institutionalize nuclear operations at the level of actual warfighting capability, beyond simple deterrence. Hong Min, senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, analyzed: "In the past, North Korea demonstrated deterrence through ICBM possession, but recently it has been emphasizing both practical operation and warfighting capability. This is laying the groundwork to justify regularizing nuclear tests and exercises going forward."
Plans for next-generation weapons development were also presented. Kim stated that the new five-year plan includes AI-based unmanned attack systems, special assets for targeting enemy satellites, electronic warfare systems aimed at paralyzing command centers, and advanced reconnaissance satellites. Some suggest these may reflect battlefield experience accumulated through troop deployments to the Russia-Ukraine war and military cooperation with Russia.
With North Korea reaffirming both its nuclear advancement and the "two hostile states" doctrine, expectations for improvement in inter-Korean relations have further dimmed. Bellicose messaging continued, including references to "the possibility of South Korea's complete collapse." Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stated: "The 'two hostile states' stance announced by North Korea does not benefit either the South or the North. The government will pursue its policy of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula without wavering."
The ball is now back in America's court. President Donald Trump, who held two summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019, has expressed willingness to engage in U.S.-North Korea dialogue since before the start of his second term. Some observers suggest Trump's planned visit to China in April could mark a turning point for resuming bilateral talks. Kim stated: "If they respect our country's current status [as a nuclear power] and withdraw their hostile policy toward our Republic, there is no reason we cannot get along well with the United States."
However, North Korea's position that dialogue is only possible if its nuclear status is recognized remains the biggest obstacle. The consensus is that there is virtually no possibility of the United States recognizing North Korea as an official nuclear-armed state under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), alongside the P5 nations. Choi Yong-hwan, vice president of the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), observed: "While it would be difficult for the U.S. to grant official recognition, dialogue could open up if they lower the negotiating framework by adjusting the level of denuclearization language. Given that Kim has continued summit diplomacy with China and Russia, the next stage is likely to be the United States."
Meanwhile, the Korean Central News Agency reported that a commemorative military parade was held at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on January 25, the closing day of the party congress. An estimated 15,000 troops were mobilized, including units that had been deployed to Ukraine. However, strategic assets such as the ICBMs unveiled at last year's parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party's founding did not appear this time. The event is interpreted as focused on political symbolism and internal solidarity rather than external display. Kim observed the parade from the reviewing stand alongside the newly elected leadership of the Party Central Military Commission.