Overview

• Speaking to the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim framed North Korea’s nuclear status as constitutional, describing the arsenal as sacred, untouchable and unchangeable.
• He said he still has "good memories" of President Donald Trump, and the remarks precede Trump’s November APEC visit to Gyeongju, which some analysts say could set the stage for a meeting.
• Kim rejected dialogue with South Korea and ruled out meeting President Lee Jae-myung.
• He argued U.N. sanctions have strengthened North Korea and insisted he will not trade nuclear weapons for sanctions relief, invoking past disarmament cases such as Libya.
• State media highlighted ongoing force modernization, citing "new secret weapons" and the construction of destroyers.