Kim Jong Un warns Korea, urges US to drop hostility
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- Kim Jong Un warned that North Korean forces could “completely destroy” South Korea and announced that dialogue with Seoul is closed.
- Kim Jong Un said the United States must respect North Korea’s constitutional status and withdraw its hostile policies for the two countries to get along.
- Kim Jong Un called for new weapons, including underwater‑launched intercontinental ballistic missiles and an expanded tactical nuclear arsenal of artillery and short‑range missiles targeting South Korea.
- Kim Jong Un claimed that recent acceleration of nuclear and missile development has permanently cemented North Korea's status as a nuclear‑armed state and that its nuclear weapons are a “guarantee and safety device” for security.
- Workers’ Party of Korea concluded its five‑year congress with a military parade in Pyongyang, featuring 5,000 party delegates, soldiers in camouflage and special‑warfare gear, and a jet fly‑by, though hardware displayed was unclear.
- Kim Ju Ae appeared beside her father at the parade podium, fueling speculation that she may be groomed as his successor.
Why it matters: Kim’s ultimatum puts the United States on the spot to alter its stance, while South Korea confronts a heightened threat from newly announced underwater‑launched ICBMs and expanded tactical nukes, reinforcing North Korea’s leverage in regional security calculations and indicating that Pyongyang will not compromise its nuclear posture without reciprocal concessions.
