During a rare meeting of North Korea’s party congress last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called the United States “our arch-enemy” and vowed to bring the U.S. “to its knees.”
In comments broadcast by North Korean state media and translated by NBC News, Kim said on Saturday, “Our external political activities must focus on our arch-enemy and the fundamental obstacle to our revolutionary development, the United States,” Kim told the 8th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.
“The efforts will focus on overpowering and bringing them to their knees,” he added.
Kim also said, “No matter who is in power in the U.S., the true nature of the U.S. and its fundamental policies towards North Korea never change,” Reuters reported.
Kim called for North Korea to increase its nuclear weapons development efforts and expand its nuclear arsenal. Kim reportedly said North Korea would not “misuse” nuclear weapons but would create new nuclear weapons that offer “preemptive” and “retaliatory” strike capabilities.
Among a list of new weapons and technologies, Kim called for the development of hypersonic weapons and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). He also called for the development of new spy satellites and drones.
Kim also said North Korea is preparing to test a “multi-warhead rocket” and a supersonic gliding warhead for new ballistic missiles. Kim also said research for a new nuclear submarine is nearing completion.
North Korea may continue to be a challenge for a Biden administration. During the campaign season, Biden referred to Kim as a “thug,” while Kim said Biden was a “rabid dog” needing to be put down.
The Washington Post reported that Kim said the way to improved relations between the U.S. and North Korea requires the U.S. to end its hostile policies towards North Korea.
According to the U.S. State Department, as of Sept. 21 of 2017, the U.S. has implemented the most restrictive sanctions on North Korea to date. Throughout the denuclearization talks with Kim, Trump said sanctions would remain in place against North Korea until the U.S. sees positive results. Trump also said his second summit with Kim fell through over North Korean demands that the U.S. lift sanctions entirely.
