In a significant development in inter-Korean relations, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has delivered a stark assessment of his country’s stance toward South Korea during the recently concluded Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea. The event, which spanned from February 19 to 25, saw Kim reaffirm his government’s position that South Korea represents “the most hostile entity” and an “eternal enemy” of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un, serving as General Secretary of the ruling party, articulated this position during his comprehensive work review report. The North Korean leader explicitly stated that his government has nothing to discuss with what he characterized as the hostile southern neighbor, further announcing that South Korea would be permanently excluded from the category of compatriots in official DPRK policy.
The address formalized the relationship between the two Koreas as “the most hostile state-to-state relationship,” a designation that Kim described as “the invariable principled stand of our Party and government.” This rhetoric represents a significant hardening of position from previous diplomatic approaches.
Kim justified this stance by referencing what he described as grave provocations by South Korea, including alleged violations of North Korean airspace through drone incursions in recent years and at the beginning of 2026. These actions, according to the North Korean leader, demonstrate that South Korea cannot be trusted as a neighbor.
The DPRK leader explicitly rejected dialogue and cooperation with South Korea, describing such approaches as “unscientific and unrealistic.” He instead issued a stark warning that the only path to security for South Korea would be to “abandon everything related to us and not to irritate us” given their shared border.
Kim concluded with a veiled threat, stating that if South Korea’s actions were to harm North Korea’s security environment, his government reserved the right to “launch any action” in response. This declaration underscores the increasingly tense military situation on the Korean Peninsula following this party congress.