New Delhi: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday ruled out renewed dialogue with South Korea, warning that his military can destroy the South if provoked. His remarks came as the country concluded a major policy meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.
According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim indicated that future engagement with the US would depend on Washington changing what Pyongyang considers hostile policies. He suggested that improved relations would only be possible if the US acknowledged North Korea’s constitutional status and adjusted its approach toward the country, according to aljazeera.com.
During the party meetings, Kim also called for the development of advanced weapons systems to strengthen North Korea’s nuclear deterrent. State media reported that he emphasized the need for new intercontinental ballistic missiles, including submarine-launched systems, as well as an expanded stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons such as short-range missiles and artillery systems capable of targeting South Korea.
He further stated that the rapid expansion of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes in recent years had firmly established the country as a nuclear-armed state. According to the report, Kim described the nuclear arsenal as essential for deterring external threats and safeguarding national security and strategic interests.
The latest statements underscore continued tensions on the Korean Peninsula, even as Pyongyang leaves open the possibility of future talks with Washington under specific conditions.
