Kim Jong Un’s “Irreversible” Doctrine: Pyongyang Slams the Door on Denuclearization
PYONGYANG, North Korea — In a defiant address to the Supreme People’s Assembly on Monday, Kim Jong Un officially codified North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state, declaring the nation’s nuclear capabilities “absolutely irreversible.” The move effectively ends decades of international hopes for a negotiated “rollback” of the North’s arsenal.
Speaking before a sea of applauding deputies, Kim rejected the long-standing diplomatic framework of “denuclearization for aid.” He characterized nuclear weapons not as a bargaining chip, but as a permanent pillar of national survival and a “self-defensive deterrent” essential for economic development.
The “Most Hostile” State
A central theme of the speech was the formal redefinition of relations with the South. Kim officially branded South Korea as the North’s “most hostile state,” moving to cement this “permanent enemy” status in a newly revised constitution.
“The dignity of the nation and its ultimate victory can only be guaranteed by the strongest of power,” Kim stated, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). He warned Seoul that any infringement on North Korean sovereignty would be met “mercilessly, without hesitation or restraint.”
A Message to Washington
While the rhetoric toward Seoul was icy, Kim’s message to the United States was more nuanced. He accused Washington of “global state terrorism and aggression”—an apparent reference to ongoing U.S. operations in the Middle East—but notably refrained from naming President Donald Trump directly.
Kim signaled that while North Korea will play a “forceful role” in a united front against U.S. “imperialism,” the door to “peaceful coexistence” remains theoretically ajar—provided the U.S. accepts North Korea’s nuclear status as a fait accompli. Analysts suggest this “measured” approach toward the White House is intended to keep options open for future sanctions relief talks that bypass South Korean mediation.
The Budget of a Nuclear State
To match his words with hardware, the Assembly approved a 2026 state budget that allocates 15.8% of total expenditure to the military. Key funding priorities include:
- Tactical Nuclear Expansion: Mass production of the Hwasan-31 warhead.
- Naval Armament: Outfitting the “green-water” navy with nuclear-capable surface and underwater vessels.
- Strategic Reach: Advancing ICBM and hypersonic missile delivery systems.
The Russia Factor
The session also featured a congratulatory message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two nations. With North Korean troops and munitions currently supporting Russian operations in Europe, the alliance has emboldened Kim to ignore UN-led sanctions and assert his own “political identity” free from the legacy of his predecessors.
As the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly concludes, the geopolitical reality of the peninsula has fundamentally shifted. The “Six-Party Talks” era is dead; in its place is a nuclear North Korea that is no longer asking for recognition, but demanding it.