North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Thursday (26 February) he will focus on expanding his country’s nuclear arsenal and that prospects for improving relations with the U.S. depend entirely on Washington’s approach, state media KCNA reported.
Kim made the remarks as North Korea’s week-long Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party concluded with a military parade in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
He described the nation’s “international status” as having risen extraordinarily and outlined major policy goals for the next five years.
“It is our party’s firm will to further expand and strengthen our national nuclear power, and thoroughly exercise our status as a nuclear state,” Kim said.
“We will focus on projects to increase the number of nuclear weapons and expand nuclear operational means.”
State media also reported plans to develop more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, including submarine-launched variants, systems using artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned drones, and weapons capable of targeting satellites.
KCNA photos showed soldiers marching in Kim Il Sung Square, while jets conducted a fly-by. His daughter Ju Ae stood alongside him, raising speculation about succession plans.
Kim left the door open for dialogue with the United States, but insisted that talks could only proceed if Washington abandons its “hostile policy”.
"If the U.S. withdraws its policy of confrontation with North Korea by respecting our country's current status... there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the U.S.," Kim said, according to KCNA.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump plans to travel to China from 31 March to 2 April. Some North Korea experts including South Korea's spy agency have speculated that Kim could meet Trump around that time.
However, he ruled out discussions with South Korea, calling it the “most hostile enemy” and warning that Pyongyang could take “arbitrary action” in response to perceived provocations.
Experts say Kim’s statements indicate an expected refusal of talks premised on denuclearisation, though the possibility of engagement remains if the U.S. adjusts its stance.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said efforts to build trust and stability on the Korean Peninsula must continue despite longstanding hostility.
Analysts note the remarks emphasise tactical nuclear and conventional weapons, highlighting continued risks to regional security and underscoring the fragile state of inter-Korean relations.
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The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
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