Kim Jong Un vows nuclear expansion, says US must shift
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- Kim Jong Un said the party will expand and strengthen its nuclear power, focusing on increasing the number of nuclear weapons and operational capabilities.
- North Korea currently has about 50 warheads and enough fissile material for up to 40 more, and is accelerating fissile material production, according to SIPRI.
- Kim outlined plans to develop stronger intercontinental ballistic missiles, including underwater‑launch variants, AI‑driven attack systems, and unmanned drones.
- Workers' Party' Ninth Congress concluded with a military parade in Pyongyang on Feb 26, featuring soldiers, jets, and Kim’s daughter Ju Ae beside senior officials.
- United States could improve relations only if it withdraws its “policy of confrontation,” according to Kim Jong Un, leaving the door open for talks under that condition.
- South Korea was called the “most hostile enemy,” with Kim warning Pyongyang could take arbitrary action and that South Korea’s complete collapse “cannot be ruled out.”
Why it matters: Kim’s pledge to expand the nuclear arsenal and develop advanced missile systems, coupled with his demand that the United States end its confrontational stance, tightens the strategic calculus for Washington and Seoul while reinforcing Pyongyang’s leverage as a nuclear state.
