'75th Anniversary of the Korean War'... North Korea Strengthens Anti-American Sentiment While Denying Southern Invasion

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the 6·25 Korean War, North Korea sought to strengthen internal unity by fostering anti-American sentiment. The regime also continued to deny responsibility for its invasion of the South.

North Korea announced on the 24th through Korean Central TV that at the expanded meeting of the 12th plenary session of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party, held from the 21st to the 23rd with Chairman Kim Jong Un in attendance, a unanimous decision was made to convene the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party. [Korean Central TV footage] Yonhap News

On June 25, Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, wrote, "From the day when the invaders ignited the flames of war against our young republic, which was less than two years old, to July 27, the day of the great joy of victory (the Armistice Agreement), three years passed," adding, "During those three years, our people had to sacrifice so much to defend every inch of our homeland and achieve victory." The article continued, "If we had been as strong then as we are now?if we had been so strong that no enemy would dare to challenge us, just as today?would we have been forced into those harsh three years of war? This thought strikes my heart," and, "We are keenly aware that, in order to crush the ever-increasing reckless war maneuvers of hostile forces, we must become stronger and even stronger."

Rodong Sinmun also conveyed a statement from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, urging the nation to "become endlessly stronger." According to the newspaper, Kim stated, "Even now, hostile forces led by the United States have not abandoned their attempts to crush our republic, and they are challenging the righteous cause of our people to build a prosperous nation through reckless and frenzied war exercises on land, in the sky, and at sea." He continued, "If we stop our struggle to strengthen ourselves even for a moment in the face of such enemies, or if we become complacent and let our guard down because of our current strength, that would be as foolish as dozing off in front of the enemy's gun barrels."

In relation to this, Rodong Sinmun reported that, on the previous day, youth students, women’s union officials, and agricultural workers held meetings across the country to pledge vengeance on the occasion of the 'Day of Anti-US Struggle of the 6·25 Korean War.' The newspaper stated that at a gathering held at the Youth Park Outdoor Theater in Pyongyang, "a video was shown exposing the heinous and unforgivable crimes committed by the United States during the Fatherland Liberation War," and claimed, "The unprecedented massacre of innocent civilians, acts of brutality, cruelty, and devastation beyond imagination?these are the true nature of the Korean War forced upon us by the United States." It further asserted, "Even at this very moment, the United States and hostile forces are frantically engaging in military confrontations to seize the cradle of our lives and happiness," and, "The unchanging aggressive nature of imperialists is that they never change."

Meanwhile, according to NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet specializing in North Korea, former U.S. President Donald Trump recently attempted to send a personal letter to Kim Jong Un through the so-called 'New York Channel,' but North Korea refused to accept it. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, when asked to confirm this on June 11 (local time), stated, "President Trump remains open to exchanging letters with Kim Jong Un," and added, "As for any specific correspondence, I will leave it to the President to address." This has been interpreted as an effective acknowledgment that a letter was indeed sent.