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North Korea Rejects Seoul as Diplomatic Partner as Kim Orders Faster Nuclear Buildup

Seoul calls the remarks a distortion of its peace outreach aimed at mutual stability.

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, arrives at the Vostochny Сosmodrome before a meeting of Russia's President Vladimir Putin with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023. Sputnik/Vladimir Smirnov/Pool/File Photo
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - 2024/10/23: A 24-hour Yonhapnews TV broadcast at Yongsan Railway Station in Seoul showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting a strategic missile base at an undisclosed location in North Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged enhancing the country's war deterrence, including nuclear readiness, citing growing U.S. nuclear threats, state media reported on October 23. During an inspection of a strategic missile base, Kim reviewed its capabilities and operational readiness. The location and date of the inspection were not disclosed. (Photo by Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Kim Yo Jong told senior Foreign Ministry officials that inter-Korean ties "will never" be repaired and labeled South Korea a "faithful dog" of the United States, according to KCNA.
  • She conveyed Kim Jong Un’s inter-Korean policy and directed diplomats to prepare countermeasures, declaring the South unfit to serve as Pyongyang’s negotiating counterpart.
  • Kim Jong Un denounced the U.S.–South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield drills as a war provocation, inspected a warship being equipped with nuclear-capable systems, and ordered a rapid expansion of the nuclear arsenal.
  • South Korea’s presidential office and Unification Ministry expressed regret over Pyongyang’s characterization, reaffirmed respect for the North’s system, and said efforts to restore the 2018 military pact aim to reduce tensions.
  • Experts said Pyongyang may seek to preempt renewed denuclearization pressure tied to Seoul’s outreach, with the scheduled Aug. 25 Lee–Trump summit cited as a potential diplomatic inflection point.