North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has articulated a dual-track diplomatic strategy during the closing ceremonies of the Workers’ Party congress, proposing conditional engagement with the United States while declaring a complete severance of relations with South Korea. The authoritarian leader stated Pyongyang could ‘get along well’ with Washington if the United States formally acknowledges North Korea’s nuclear status as codified in its constitution and abandons its hostile policies toward the regime.
Kim’s remarks, disseminated through state-controlled media outlet KCNA, contrasted sharply with his belligerent posture toward Seoul, which he designated as ‘the most hostile entity.’ The North Korean leader explicitly declared that inter-Korean relations would be permanently excluded from diplomatic considerations, advising South Korea to ‘give up everything related to us and leave us alone’ for its own security.
Analysts interpret these statements as signaling Pyongyang’s intention to pursue direct bilateral engagement with the United States while circumventing South Korean intermediaries. Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies, noted that Kim’s position clearly indicates rejection of any denuclearization-premised negotiations.
The diplomatic overture occurs amid speculation that former President Donald Trump might seek another meeting with Kim during potential travels to Asia. Their 2019 Hanoi summit collapsed over disagreements regarding sanctions relief and nuclear concessions. Meanwhile, North Korea has strengthened its international positioning through deepened alliances with Russia and China, notably evidenced by Kim’s appearance alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at Beijing’s military parade last year.
The Workers’ Party congress concluded with a grandiose military parade featuring units that had participated in Russia’s Ukraine campaign and those stationed along the inter-Korean border. Kim utilized the event to reaffirm North Korea’s readiness to launch ‘fierce retaliatory attacks’ against any perceived sovereignty violations, underscoring the regime’s continued prioritization of military capabilities despite economic hardships and international isolation.