North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that he had exhausted all avenues of negotiation with the United States, concluding that the U.S. maintains an aggressive and hostile policy toward North Korea.
On Friday, the Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported that Kim made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the Defense Development 2024 arms exhibition held in Pyongyang on Thursday. Kim said, “We have already gone as far as possible on the path of negotiations with the United States. The outcome confirmed not the will for coexistence by a superpower but a thoroughly force-driven stance and an unchanging invasive and hostile policy toward the DPRK.”
This statement appears to be a direct message to the U.S. administration, effectively ending the possibility of resuming North Korea-U.S. summits or dialogue in the near future.
Kim emphasized, “The current reality proves that only the strongest defense capabilities can deter our adversaries. This is the sole guarantee of peace and the foundation of our stability and progress.” He added, “We will never tolerate any infringement on our nation’s security, and under no circumstances will we allow ourselves to tip the scales of military balance.”
Kim described the exhibition as a fruit of defense development, achieved through a tit-for-tat, head-on confrontation in response to the vicious confrontational stance and adventurous military actions of the United States and its allied forces that reached unprecedented heights in 2024.
Kim expressed confidence in North Korea’s ability to face future security challenges, stating, “We possess the capability to respond to any threats proactively.” He claimed that the weapons on display represent the pinnacle of modern defense science, technology, and economic power.
Kim thanked senior defense officials, including General Kim Jeong Sik, General Jang Chang Ha, Chairman Go Byeong Hyeon, Director Kim Yong Hwan, and Chief Jeon Il Ho. He also thanked officials and workers in the defense science sector, the Second Economic Committee’s munitions factories, and the working class.
Emphasizing military modernization, Kim stated, “As long as forces threaten our sovereignty, we must continuously upgrade and advance our armed forces to meet the demands of our national security environment.”
He stressed, “We aim to evolve our self-defense capabilities more aggressively and without limits. Our goal is to technologically modernize our military and equip it with more powerful means to counter the evolving aspects of modern warfare and the increasingly dangerous tactics of our adversaries.”
To commemorate the opening of the arms exhibition, the event featured an aerial demonstration by an Air Force flight unit and a celebratory music concert. According to the newspaper, Minister of Defense No Kwang Chol, Chief of the General Staff Ri Yong Gil, and Director of the General Political Bureau Jeong Gyeong Taek welcomed Kim to the opening ceremony.
Kim also photographed commemorative photos with the People’s Army’s Fourth Battalion Commanders and Battalion Political Instructors Conference participants. After the ceremony, he toured the exhibition hall with participants, encouraging patriotism and loyalty among defense workers and citizens.