North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated that his nation could "get along well" with the United States, provided Washington formally recognises Pyongyang as a nuclear-armed power. The high-stakes overture, delivered at the conclusion of the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea on Wednesday, marks a strategic pivot toward direct diplomacy with the West while simultaneously freezing out South Korea.
Speaking before thousands of delegates in Pyongyang, Kim framed the future of bilateral relations as a choice for the American administration. He noted that there is "no reason" the two nations cannot coexist if the U.S. respects North Korea’s "current status as stipulated in the Constitution" and withdraws its long-standing "hostile policy", a term typically referring to international sanctions and joint military exercises.
"Whether it is peaceful coexistence or permanent confrontation, we are ready for either, and the choice is not ours to make," Kim said, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
The timing of the announcement has fuelled international speculation. Analysts suggest Kim is positioning himself for a potential summit with President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to visit China in April. Trump has previously expressed an openness to re-engaging with the North Korean leader.
While extending a hand to Washington, Kim was notably aggressive toward Seoul. He officially designated South Korea as the North’s "most hostile entity" and declared that he would "permanently exclude" the South from the category of compatriots. He dismissed recent peace initiatives from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung as "deceptive", signalling a total collapse in inter-Korean relations.
In response, the South Korean presidential office issued a statement on Thursday affirming its commitment to "peaceful coexistence" despite the rhetoric. Seoul urged both sides to "refrain from hostile and confrontational rhetoric" to build a foundation of mutual trust.
The party congress concluded with a massive nighttime military parade showcasing North Korea’s expanding arsenal. Despite his diplomatic hints, Kim vowed to continue strengthening the nation's nuclear forces on an annual basis to ensure "regional stability".