North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, pledged to expand his country’s nuclear arsenal and further advance its missile program. Nevertheless, he indicated a willingness to improve relations with the Amerika Serikat, provided that Washington formally recognizes North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.

In his address at the ruling party’s first congress in five years, Kim outlined an ambitious weapons development agenda. He vowed to build more advanced land- and submarine-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). At the same time, he urged the United States to abandon what he described as its “hostile policy” toward Pyongyang if it seeks to resume dialogue.

Closing the seven-day Workers’ Party Congress in Pyongyang, Kim emphasized that North Korea has a plan to strengthen its national nuclear force year after year, mobilizing all efforts to increase the number of nuclear weapons and broaden their operational capabilities and scope of deployment.

He stated that if the United States respects North Korea’s constitutional status and withdraws its hostile approach, there would be no reason not to pursue improved bilateral ties. According to the state news agency KCNA, Kim added that the future of North Korea–US relations depends entirely on Washington’s stance.

In the same speech, Kim delivered sharp criticism of diplomatic initiatives from South Korea’s new left-leaning administration under President Lee Jae Myung. He characterized Seoul’s peace overtures as awkward and unconvincing, labeling them as deceptive.

Kim asserted that North Korea has no issues to discuss with the South and declared that it would permanently exclude South Korea from the category of fellow nationals.

The congress, attended by approximately 5,000 delegates and party officials, was closely watched worldwide as an indicator of Kim’s development priorities for the next five years. Although Donald Trump has expressed readiness to return to negotiations, Pyongyang remains firm that Washington must withdraw its denuclearization demands as a precondition for talks.

Kim’s current position contrasts sharply with that of five years ago. He has emerged as a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin by supporting the war in Ukraine. Last September, Kim stood alongside Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a military parade in Beijing. This move is seen as transforming his image from that of an isolated leader into a significant global player.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration recently released its National Defense Strategy urging South Korea to assume a leading role in deterring threats from the North, signaling a potential reduction of US military support in the region.