Kim Jong-un says North Korea no longer eyeing reunification with South, warns of war ‘at any time’

North Korea watchers also say Kim’s statements were a veiled threat towards Seoul, amid Pyongyang’s plan to launch three more spy satellites into space in 2024

South Koreans fear a turbulent year ahead, with secret service warning the North might unleash fresh provocations ahead of Seoul’s elections in April

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North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un attends the ninth plenary session of the eighth Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea at the headquarters of the party’s Central Committee. Pyongyang has repeatedly blamed the Seoul government for the deterioration in relations in the past. Photo: dpa

Published: 7:00pm, 31 Dec 2023

North Korea’s largely isolated leadership dampened hopes of a rapprochement with the South in 2024, with ruler Kim Jong-un saying he is no longer striving for reunification, in comments at the close of a party meeting on Sunday.

Kim said Pyongyang is no longer aiming for reunification, long a goal shared by both Koreas, which have been in a state of war under international law since the end of the conflict between 1950 and 1953.

“We should not make the mistake again of seeing them as a counterpart for reconciliation and unification, as South Korea has declared us its main enemy,” Kim was quoted as saying by state media.

Earlier, North Korea said it planned to launch three more spy satellites into space in 2024.

Kim outlined his country’s security goals for 2024 during the usual end-of-year meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee, which ended on Saturday.

“Relations between South and North Korea are no longer those between people of the same nation,” said Kim, arguing that the relationship between the Koreas has developed into one between states who are at war.

The current situation requires his government to redefine its stance on unification policy, he said.

North Korea is one of the most isolated countries globally. Due to its nuclear weapons programme, it has been slapped with tough international sanctions. Pyongyang considers the US and South Korea to be its biggest enemies.