North Korea will no longer seek reconciliation
Kim Jong declared that North Korea will no longer pursue reconciliation and reunification with South Korea. He stated that inter-Korean relations are now between two hostile countries engaged in war. Kim emphasized the need to acknowledge this reality and redefine the relationship with the South. North Korea plans to launch three new military spy satellites in 2024. Kim warned against any military confrontation, asserting that their nuclear deterrent would take serious action. He criticized dealing with those who label North Korea as the “main enemy” and aim for regime collapse and unification through absorption.
Technically at war
Since the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953, North and South Korea have been separated. The war ended with an armistice, leaving the two sides technically still at war. Despite the on-going armistice, both governments have expressed the aspiration for eventual reunification. The goal of reunification has been a longstanding objective for both North and South Korea.
Tensions Remain High:
Relations between North and South Korea have experienced fluctuations over the decades. In recent years, tensions have escalated, especially after Kim Jong Un intensified North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. This action by North Korea occurred in defiance of international sanctions. The heightened nuclear activity has contributed to the increased strain in the region.
War preparations
Last week, Kim Jong Un directed North Korea’s military and related sectors to hasten war preparations in response to perceived US “confrontation moves,” as reported by KCNA. The political and military situation on the Korean Peninsula was described as “grave” and had reached an “extreme” point, according to KCNA. Hoo Chiew-Ping, a senior fellow at EAIR and member of APNAP, noted the significance of Kim’s recent comments on reunification, suggesting a departure from inter-Korean relations in recent years.
Hoo sees Kim’s stance as a critical milestone, predicting vehement rejection of future South Korean administrations’ attempts at reconciliation. Pyongyang seems more inclined to strengthen relations with current allies like China and Russia, excluding the US, South Korea, and Japan from Kim’s strategic outreach.
Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor and nonresident scholar, interprets Kim’s speech as acknowledging the impracticality of unification in the short or medium term for the Koreas.
What Non-Unification Means:
Chong questions whether non-unification for North Korea implies maintaining the status quo or a need for more active self-protection.
He suggests that if North Korea seeks to enhance its defensive capabilities within the existing framework, it could be tolerated.
