Kim Jong Un says North could ‘completely destroy’ South Korea in latest threat

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Thursday that his country could “completely destroy” South Korea if it felt threatened, escalating the rhetoric and ruling out renewed talks.

Speaking at the week-long Ninth Congress of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party in Pyongyang, Kim labeled South Korea the “most hostile enemy” and said “the conciliatory attitude advocated by South Korea’s current government on the surface is clumsily deceptive and rude,” according to state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim said North Korea could “launch arbitrary action” if South Korea engaged in “disgusting behavior” towards his country, scuppering Seoul’s recent efforts to improve relations.

“The complete collapse of South Korea cannot be ruled out,” Kim said, according to KCNA.

During the congress, Kim outlined overarching five-year policy goals focused on expanding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. The country is believed to have about 50 warheads and enough fissile material to produce 40 more, according to an estimate last year by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The North Korean leader said the country’s “international status has increased tremendously.”

“It is our party’s firm will to further expand and strengthen our national nuclear power and fully implement nuclear state status,” Kim said, according to KCNA. he said. “We will focus on projects to increase the number of nuclear weapons and expand nuclear operational means.”

IMAGES OF NORTH KOREA’S NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was re-elected as general secretary during the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), held in Pyongyang, North Korea, on February 22, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency via REUTERS)

According to KCNA, Kim revealed North Korea’s plans to develop artificial intelligence-guided weapon systems and unmanned drones, as well as more advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles that can be launched from underwater.

Kim, who met with President Donald Trump three times during Trump’s first term, signaled that he might be open to future negotiations with Washington, but placed the responsibility squarely on the United States.

“Whether it is peaceful coexistence or permanent conflict, we are ready for both, and the choice is not in our hands,” he said.

NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG UN’S DAUGHTER IS SEEN AS THE FUTURE SUCCESSOR: SPY AGENCY

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae attended the event held to celebrate the new year in Pyongyang, North Korea. (KCNA via Reuters)

Kim said that if the United States “withdrew its policy of confrontation” with North Korea and accepted the country’s “current situation,” there would be “no reason why we cannot get along with the United States.”

Following the congress, Kim’s teenage daughter attended a military parade in Pyongyang on Wednesday, according to KCNA. Ju Ae, believed to be 13 or 14 years old, was photographed alongside her father and senior military leaders.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

His appearance comes after South Korean media reported that Kim had recently given him a leadership role in the powerful “Missile Administration” that oversees Pyongyang’s nuclear forces.

Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey along with Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related Article