[2nd Report] Kim Jong-un's First External Message: "Must Be Fully Prepared for Confrontation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun]Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, emphasized at the Party Plenary Meeting that preparations must be made for both dialogue and confrontation. This is the first official external message since the inauguration of the Joe Biden U.S. administration.

Korean Central Broadcasting reported on the 18th, "The 3rd Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Party continued on June 17," adding, "The fourth agenda item discussed the analysis of the current international situation and our Party's response direction."

General Secretary Kim stated, "To safeguard the dignity of our nation and the interests of independent development, and to reliably guarantee a peaceful environment and national security, we must be prepared for both dialogue and confrontation," emphasizing, "Especially, we must be even more thoroughly prepared for confrontation."

He then expressed the foreign policy stance and principles, stating, "We must be sensitive and agile in responding to the rapidly changing situation and focus on managing the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a stable manner."

The broadcast explained, "The General Secretary thoroughly analyzed the policy direction of the newly inaugurated U.S. administration toward our Republic and specified accurate strategic and tactical responses and activity plans to uphold in future relations with the U.S."

North Korea has been holding the Party Plenary Meeting since the 15th, and on this day also reported that "the meeting continues," indicating that the plenary meeting will proceed on the 18th as well.