Kim Jong Un Threatens ‘Total Destruction’ of South Korea, Signals Openness to US Talks

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated Thursday that his nuclear-armed country could “completely destroy” South Korea if its security was challenged, repeating his refusal to cooperate with Seoul.

However, he kept the door open for conversation with Washington as he concluded a governing party congress detailing his policy objectives for the next five years.

In recent years, Kim has hardened his rhetoric toward Seoul, emphasising his opposition to inter-Korean diplomatic relations.

According to experts, this is unlikely to presage military battles, but rather is part of a larger drive to impose a more strong regional role, bolstered by Kim’s nuclear arsenal and relations to Moscow and Beijing.

A five-year military plan has been unveiled.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim also called for the development of new weapons systems to bolster his nuclear-armed military, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of being launched from underwater and an expanded arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, such as artillery and short-range missiles aimed at South Korea.

He claimed that the accelerated development of his nuclear and missile programs in recent years “permanently cemented” the country’s status as a nuclear weapons state, and he urged the United States to abandon what he perceives as “hostile” policies toward the North if it wants to restart long-stalled talks.

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The Workers’ Party congress, which began last Thursday in Pyongyang, is the country’s most important political gathering. According to KCNA, the North hosted a military parade in the capital on Wednesday to conclude the congress, which has previously been held in 2016 and 2021.

Kim Jong Un showed a retaliatory attitude in the parade.

Watching the parade with his increasingly prominent daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to be around 13 years old, Kim Jong Un stated in an address that his forces were capable of “immediately and thoroughly retaliating” to any foreign threat.

However, the state outlet did not immediately clarify whether he displayed his most powerful weaponry, which included ICBMs capable of reaching the US mainland.

Hardening stance toward Seoul, measured tone for Washington.

Kim’s remarks at the congress were largely expected, as he has been presenting increasingly hard-line views against South Korea since 2024, when he abandoned the North’s long-standing objective of peaceful reunification of the war-torn Koreas and declared the South to be a perpetual enemy.

However, observers expected Kim would take a more cautious approach toward Washington in order to maintain the potential of future conversation, with the long-term goal of obtaining US sanctions relief and tacit recognition as a nuclear power.

Kim has recently prioritised Russia in his foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and substantial amounts of military equipment to assist Moscow in its war in Ukraine, presumably in exchange for help and military technology.

There’s no reason we can’t get along with US.

In a report that concluded the congress, Kim stated that his government was maintaining the “toughest stance” against Washington, but that there was “no reason we cannot get along” with the Americans if they reversed their allegedly “hostile policy” toward the North.

North Korea frequently uses the word to describe US-led pressure and sanctions against Kim’s nuclear ambitions. His statements were consistent with North Korea’s prior position, which called on Washington to relinquish its demands for the North’s denuclearisation as a precondition for restarting negotiations.

North Korea has consistently rejected requests from Washington and Seoul to resume diplomacy aimed at winding down its nuclear program, which was stalled in 2019 when Kim’s second summit with US President Donald Trump during his first term fell through.

The future of US-North Korean relations “depends entirely on the US attitude,” Kim stated. “Whether it’s peaceful coexistence or permanent confrontation, we are ready for either, and the choice is not ours to make.”

Dismissing Seoul as a ‘enemy state’

Analysts say Kim’s criticism of South Korea reflects his belief that Seoul, which helped set up his first talks with Trump, is no longer a viable mediator with Washington, but rather an impediment to his efforts to create a more powerful regional stance.

He has also demonstrated sensitivity to South Korean soft power, launching vigorous domestic campaigns to limit the influence of South Korean culture and language among his people as he seeks to strengthen his family’s totalitarian control.

At the conference, Kim dismissed liberal South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s appeals for interaction as a ruse, accusing successive Seoul governments of pursuing the North’s demise.

He stated that there is “absolutely nothing to discuss” with an enemy state and that the North will “permanently exclude” the South from the concept of a joint nation.As long as the Republic of Korea cannot escape its geopolitical situation of sharing a border with us, the only way it can live comfortably is to cut all relations with us and desist from irritating us,” he remarked, dismissively referring to South Korea’s formal name.

Tensions may increase over joint drills.

Tensions could climb further next month, when South Korea conducts its regular military drills with the United States. North Korea views the partners’ joint drills as invasion rehearsals, and it frequently exploits them as an excuse to ramp up its own military demonstrations.

Kim emphasised naval capabilities by calling for ICBMs that could be fired from underwater platforms, implying potential intentions to install those weapons on the nuclear-powered submarine being developed.

He advocated for the development of artificial intelligence-equipped attack drones, enhanced electronic warfare capabilities to destroy enemy command centers, more advanced reconnaissance satellites, and unnamed weaponry for striking enemy satellites.

He also stated that the military will deploy more nuclear-capable artillery weapons against South Korea in stages each year, accelerating efforts to “fortify” the inter-Korean border.