SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has issued a stern warning regarding the elevated U.S. security partnership with South Korea and Japan, stating that it represents a grave threat to North Korea. In a recent speech marking the 77th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army, Kim vowed to further enhance his country’s nuclear weapons program, as reported by state media.
Kim's rhetoric has been consistent, indicating that he is unlikely to embrace any overtures from President Donald Trump for renewed diplomatic talks in the near future. During his speech, Kim asserted that the trilateral security arrangement among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea is part of a U.S. strategy to establish a NATO-like military bloc in the region. He claimed this partnership is creating military imbalances on the Korean Peninsula and poses significant challenges to North Korean security.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) highlighted that Kim referenced "new plans for rapidly bolstering all deterrence," including nuclear capabilities. This statement reiterates North Korea's steadfast commitment to advancing its nuclear forces, particularly amid ongoing stagnant diplomatic relations with the U.S. and South Korea. In response to North Korea's developments, the U.S. and South Korea have increased their joint military exercises, as well as trilateral drills that involve Japan. North Korea has criticized these drills, labeling them as rehearsals for an invasion.
Since his inauguration on January 20, Trump has expressed a desire to reconnect with Kim, recalling the high-profile summits they held in 2018 and 2019 aimed at denuclearizing North Korea. In a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Trump stated his intention to maintain relations with Kim, expressing confidence that he had managed to avert war during his previous term.
During a Fox News interview aired on January 23, Trump praised Kim as "a smart guy" and indicated he would indeed reach out to him again. However, the diplomacy that characterized their prior engagements ultimately collapsed when Trump rejected Kim's offer to dismantle significant aspects of his nuclear program in exchange for some easing of sanctions.
While North Korea has not directly responded to Trump's recent overtures, it continues to engage in weapons testing and maintains a hostile stance towards the U.S. Observers suggest that Kim may currently be focused on sending troops to support Russia in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, indicating a shift in his foreign policy priorities. Nevertheless, experts speculate that Kim may eventually consider returning to diplomatic discussions with Trump if he perceives a need to navigate the post-war landscape with Russia more cautiously.
In his speech, Kim reaffirmed North Korea's support for Russia, asserting solidarity with Russian sovereignty and security while accusing the U.S. of exacerbating the situation in Ukraine. This sentiment resonates in South Korea, where there are concerns that Trump's desire for diplomatic achievement might lead him to compromise on the international community's goal of denuclearizing North Korea.
However, a joint statement from Trump and Ishiba emphasized their unwavering commitment to achieving the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The delegation reaffirmed the significance of the trilateral partnership between Japan, the U.S., and South Korea in addressing the North Korean threat moving forward.
