Kim Jong Un says North may ‘totally destroy’ South Korea in latest threat

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Thursday that his country could “totally destroy” South Korea if it felt threatened, escalating the rhetoric as he dismissed renewed talks.

Speaking at the Ninth Congress of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party in Pyongyang, Kim called South Korea “the most vicious enemy” and said “the conciliatory attitude promoted by the South Korean government is deceptive and crude,” according to state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim said North Korea would “initiate unprovoked action” if South Korea engaged in “abhorrent behavior” directed at his country, dismissing recent efforts by Seoul to improve relations.

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

During the summit, Kim outlined a five-year policy aimed at expanding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. The country is believed to have about 50 warheads and enough material to produce up to 40 more, according to an estimate last year from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The North Korean leader said “the situation in the country has risen dramatically.”

“It is our party’s strong desire to continue to expand and strengthen our national nuclear power, and make good use of its status as a nuclear power,” Kim said, according to KCNA. “We will focus on plans to increase the number of nuclear weapons and increase the methods of nuclear operation.”

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

Kim laid out plans for North Korea to develop advanced submarine-launched ballistic missiles, as well as artificial intelligence-driven weapons systems and unmanned drones, KCNA reported.

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

“Whether it’s peaceful coexistence or fighting forever, we are ready for either, and the choice is not ours,” he said.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae attended a New Year celebration in Pyongyang, North Korea. (KCNA via Reuters)

Kim said that if the US “rescinds its policy of confrontation” with North Korea and accepts the “current situation of the country,” there will be “no reason why we cannot get along well with the US.”

After the summit, Kim’s daughter attended a military parade in Pyongyang on Wednesday, according to KCNA. Ju Ae, who is believed to be 13 or 14 years old, was photographed standing next to his father and top military leaders.

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His appearance comes after South Korean media reported that Kim recently gave him a leadership position in the regime’s powerful “Missile Administration,” which oversees Pyongyang’s nuclear forces.

Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey, and Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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