North Korea Signals Nuclear Expansion While Leaving Door Open to U.S. Dialogue

Fox News

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to expand his country’s nuclear arsenal and outlined conditions for potential talks with the United States, remarks that were made as the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea concluded this week.

At the end of the week‑long party congress in Pyongyang, Kim said North Korea will focus on strengthening and increasing its nuclear capabilities over the next five years, including plans to build more weapons and enhance delivery systems. He described the nation’s international status as having “increased extraordinarily” and reiterated the regime’s commitment to maintaining its position as a nuclear‑armed state.

Kim also addressed relations with the United States. According to state media reports, he said that North Korea and the U.S. could “get along well” if Washington respects Pyongyang’s status as defined in the North Korean constitution and withdraws what he called a hostile policy. At the same time, he stressed that the prospects for improved relations depend entirely on the attitude of the United States.

Despite this conditional openness to dialogue with Washington, Kim dismissed outreach from South Korea as “deceptive” and described Seoul as a hostile neighbour. The North Korean leader said his country is prepared for either “peaceful coexistence or eternal confrontation,” and that the choice was dependent on how others respond to Pyongyang’s positions.

The announcements came as a military parade marked the official close of the party congress, which set major policy goals for both diplomacy and defence for the coming years. Analysts say the dual emphasis on continued nuclear development and conditional engagement with the United States reflects Pyongyang’s attempt to balance deterrence with diplomatic flexibility amid ongoing tensions in East Asia.

Sources: The Star, Reuters, and Korea Times


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