North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, declared on Monday that the country has officially ceased attempts at reconciliation with South Korea, aligning with a proposed constitutional change that would label South Korea as the leading hostile state. These statements were reported through North Korea’s state-controlled news outlet, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The North Korean leader argued that establishing peace between the two nations is out of reach, given that the Republic of Korea (ROK) has adopted an aggressive policy against North Korea, aiming at the collapse of its government and subsequent unification by absorption.
The KCNA further announced that North Korea intends to disband three agencies focusing on unification and inter-Korean tourism, namely the Committee for Peaceful Unification, National Economic Cooperation Bureau, and Mount Kumgang International Tourism Administration. Remarkably, Kim Jong Un also forecasted the launch of three new military spy satellites by North Korea in 2024.
These announcements were made during the 10th session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) held in Pyongyang. Kim Jong Un elaborated on the strained relationships between the two Koreas, blaming South Korea for the tension in the Korean peninsula. He further warned that any violation, however minor, of North Korea’s territorial land, air, and waters would be considered an act of war provocation. However, he added that North Korea would not initiate a war unprovoked.
The relationship between North and South Korea has been tense, dating back to 1945 when the nations were partitioned. Technically, both countries have remained at war since there was no formal peace treaty ending the Korean War. Adding to the uneasy relations, North Korea ended a military agreement in November last year that was aimed at reducing tensions with the South.
Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s president, criticized North Korea’s move to classify the South as a hostile country, citing it indicative of Pyongyang’s anti-national and ahistorical nature. This can be read in detail here.