Kim Jong Un says North may 'utterly destroy' South Korea in newest risk

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North Korean chief Kim Jong Un stated Thursday that his nation may "utterly destroy" South Korea if it feels threatened, escalating rhetoric whereas ruling out renewed talks.

Talking at North Korea’s week-long Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party in Pyongyang, Kim labeled South Korea the "most hostile enemy" and stated "the conciliatory angle that South Korea's present authorities advocates on the floor is clumsily misleading and crude," in keeping with state media Korean Central Information Company (KCNA).

Kim stated North Korea "can provoke arbitrary motion" if South Korea engages in "obnoxious habits" directed at his nation, dismissing latest efforts by Seoul to enhance relations.

"South Korea's full collapse can't be dominated out," Kim stated, in keeping with KCNA.

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/672/378/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-speaks-during-congress-session.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1344/756/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-speaks-during-congress-session.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/931/523/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-speaks-during-congress-session.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1862/1046/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-speaks-during-congress-session.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/720/405/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-speaks-during-congress-session.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1440/810/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-speaks-during-congress-session.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> North Korean chief Kim Jong Un spoke through the Ninth Congress of the ruling Staff’ Occasion in Pyongyang on Feb. 23, 2026. ( Korean Central Information Company by way of REUTERS)

Through the congress, Kim outlined sweeping five-year coverage objectives centered on expanding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal . The nation is believed to own round 50 warheads and sufficient fissile materials to supply as much as 40 extra, in keeping with an estimate final 12 months from the Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute.

The North Korean chief stated the nation's "worldwide standing has risen terribly."

"It's our get together's agency will to additional broaden and strengthen our nationwide nuclear energy, and totally train its standing as a nuclear state," Kim stated, in keeping with KCNA. "We are going to give attention to initiatives to extend the variety of nuclear weapons and broaden nuclear operational means."

NORTH KOREA RELEASES IMAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/343/192/north-korea-ruling-workers-party-re-elects-kim-jong-un-as-general-secretary.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/686/384/north-korea-ruling-workers-party-re-elects-kim-jong-un-as-general-secretary.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/672/378/north-korea-ruling-workers-party-re-elects-kim-jong-un-as-general-secretary.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1344/756/north-korea-ruling-workers-party-re-elects-kim-jong-un-as-general-secretary.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/931/523/north-korea-ruling-workers-party-re-elects-kim-jong-un-as-general-secretary.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1862/1046/north-korea-ruling-workers-party-re-elects-kim-jong-un-as-general-secretary.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/720/405/north-korea-ruling-workers-party-re-elects-kim-jong-un-as-general-secretary.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1440/810/north-korea-ruling-workers-party-re-elects-kim-jong-un-as-general-secretary.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> North Korean chief Kim Jong Un was re-elected as normal secretary through the Ninth Congress of the Staff' Occasion of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang, North Korea, Feb. 22, 2026. (Korean Central Information Company by way of REUTERS )

Kim laid out plans for North Korea to develop extra superior intercontinental ballistic missiles able to underwater launches, together with synthetic intelligence-driven weapons techniques and unmanned drones, KCNA reported.

Kim, who met with President Donald Trump thrice throughout Trump’s first time period, signaled he could also be open to future negotiations with Washington however positioned duty squarely on the US.

"Whether or not it’s peaceable coexistence or everlasting confrontation, we're prepared for both, and the selection shouldn't be ours to make," he stated.

NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG UN'S DAUGHTER SEEN AS FUTURE SUCCESSOR: SPY AGENCY

North Korean chief Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae attended an occasion to have fun the New Yr, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (KCNA by way of Reuters)

Kim stated that if the U.S "withdraws its coverage of confrontation" with North Korea and acknowledges the nation's "present standing," there could be "no motive why we can't get alongside nicely with the U.S."

Following the congress, Kim’s teenage daughter attended a army parade in Pyongyang on Wednesday, in keeping with KCNA. Ju Ae, believed to be 13 or 14, was photographed standing beside her father and senior army leaders.

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Her look comes after South Korean media reported that Kim lately gave her a leadership role within the regime’s highly effective "Missile Administration," which oversees Pyongyang’s nuclear forces.