SEOUL, Dec 29: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced plans to enact the “toughest” anti-US policy, as reported by the nation’s state media on Sunday, just weeks prior to Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president.
Trump’s return to the White House raises the possibility of renewed high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met with Kim three times to discuss North Korea’s nuclear program.
However, many experts predict that a swift revival of Trump-Kim summits is unlikely, as Trump will probably prioritize global conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Furthermore, North Korea’s backing of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine complicates diplomatic efforts, according to analysts.
In a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party that concluded on Friday, Kim denounced the US as “the most reactionary state that considers anti-communism its steadfast policy.” He characterized the US-South Korea-Japan security alliance as expanding into “a nuclear military bloc for aggression.”
“This reality clearly indicates the direction we must take and what actions we should pursue,” Kim stated, per the Korean Central News Agency.
The agency noted that Kim’s address outlined a strategy for aggressive anti-US countermeasures aimed at securing North Korea’s long-term national interests and safety.
While KCNA did not provide specifics about the anti-US strategy, it mentioned that Kim set goals to enhance military capabilities through advancements in defense technology and emphasized the importance of strengthening the mental resilience of North Korean troops.
The previous meetings between Trump and Kim not only tempered their exchanges of heated rhetoric and threats but also fostered a personal rapport. Trump famously remarked that he and Kim “fell in love.” Nevertheless, their discussions ultimately stalled in 2019 due to disagreements over US-imposed sanctions on North Korea.
Since then, North Korea has significantly accelerated its weapons testing program, aiming to develop more reliable nuclear missiles that can target the US and its allies.
In response, the US and South Korea have expanded their military drills, including trilateral exercises with Japan, which have drawn harsh criticism from North Korea, viewing such actions as rehearsals for invasion.
Complicating efforts to persuade North Korea to relinquish its nuclear arsenal is its growing military collaboration with Russia.
According to assessments from the US, Ukraine, and South Korea, North Korea has dispatched over 10,000 troops and conventional weapons to assist Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia might return the favor by providing North Korea with advanced weaponry technologies, including assistance in developing more potent nuclear missiles.
Despite North Korea’s persistent missile tests defying UN Security Council resolutions, Russia and China have repeatedly thwarted US initiatives to impose further UN sanctions against the country amidst their own disputes with the US.
Last month, Kim remarked that previous negotiations with the United States merely validated Washington’s “unchangeable” antagonism towards North Korea and asserted that his nuclear expansion is the sole means of countering external threats. (AP)
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