Kim Jong-un Draws the Line on the 'Returned Trump'... "I've Been as Far as I Could Go"

Ahead of Trump’s Re-election, US Dismisses Possibility of Dialogue

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, dismissed the possibility of dialogue with the United States. This is interpreted as a rejection of talks amid increasing mentions of potential North Korea-U.S. negotiations ahead of Donald Trump's possible re-election. Instead of dialogue, he criticized the U.S. policy toward North Korea as 'hostile' and repeatedly expressed his determination to strengthen national defense capabilities.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 22nd, Kim delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the armed equipment exhibition 'Defense Development-2024' held in Pyongyang the previous day, stating, "We have already gone as far as we could on the path of negotiations with the United States, and what we confirmed as a result was not the coexistence will of a great power but a thoroughly forceful stance and an unchanging aggressive and hostile policy toward the DPRK, no matter when we go." This is analyzed as drawing a line against prospects of a North Korea-U.S. summit raised ahead of Trump’s re-election, who flaunts his personal relationship with Kim.

Kim evaluated the U.S. expansion of nuclear-sharing military alliances and deployment of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula as a 'pressure tactic' against North Korea, claiming, "The Korean Peninsula has never faced a situation that could escalate into the most destructive thermonuclear war." He then emphasized the will to develop nuclear weapons again, saying, "The strongest national defense capable of overwhelming the enemy is the only way to safeguard peace and guarantee solid stability and development."

Opening ceremony of the armed equipment exhibition "Defense Development-2024" held in Pyongyang on the 21st. Photo by Yonhap News.

He also firmly stated that there will be no 'denuclearization talks.' In particular, he said, "Our Party and government will never tolerate any situation where the sovereign right to national security is infringed," and "We clearly reaffirm that we will never lower the scale of military balance with our own hands."

He also presented tasks for military equipment innovation suited to the nature of modern warfare. He said, "In response to the new aspects of modern warfare and the increasingly dangerous evolving war tactics of adversaries, we will evolve our self-defense capabilities more offensively without limits and equip more superior means."

Photos released by North Korean media show that this exhibition displayed weapon systems unveiled by North Korea this year, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic missiles, multiple rocket launchers, and unmanned aerial vehicles.