North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that South Korea will be "permanently excluded from the category of compatriots," while leaving the door open for dialogue with the United States.
According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 26th, Kim made the remarks during his summary report at the 9th Party Congress of the Workers' Party held on the 20th-21st. He dismissed the South Korean government's conciliatory stance as "a deceptive farce and a poor performance."
"There is absolutely no reason to deal with South Korea, the most hostile entity, and they can only live safely if they abandon all ties with us," Kim said.
He also threatened that "the possibility of South Korea's complete collapse cannot be ruled out if their reckless behavior threatens our security." This represents an escalation of hardline rhetoric following his 2024 redefinition of inter-Korean relations as "two hostile states," effectively declaring reconciliation impossible.
Kim unveiled plans to advance nuclear capabilities centered on nuclear submarines and next-generation weapons including artificial intelligence drones.
However, regarding the United States, Kim expressed willingness for dialogue, stating: "If they respect our nation's status and withdraw their hostile policy toward North Korea, there is no reason we cannot get along."
Attention is now focused on whether U.S.-North Korea talks might emerge following President Donald Trump's planned visit to China in April.
The South Korean government has described inter-Korean relations as "a situation requiring threading even a needle's eye," but North Korea continues to dismiss Seoul's efforts while maintaining its hostile two-state framework.
President Lee Jae-myung said at a senior secretaries' meeting: "Some criticize the South's approach as submissive, but we must move past the history of racing toward confrontation and war. If we persistently communicate and build trust, structural peace will come to the Korean Peninsula."