Confrontation or dialogue? You choose, North Korea’s Kim tells US

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Park Chan-kyongFebruary 26, 2026 at 05:00 AM

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated that the future of North Korea-US relations depends on the attitude of the United States. Speaking at the Ninth Workers’ Party congress on Wednesday, Kim said North Korea is prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, leaving the choice to Washington. He indicated that peaceful coexistence is possible if the US respects North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state. However, Kim warned that Pyongyang would respond proportionally to any continued confrontational approach from the US, vowing to further develop its weapons capabilities, including submarine-launched ICBMs, to strengthen its nuclear arsenal. He emphasized that solidifying North Korea's position as a nuclear weapons state remains the party's unwavering goal.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

KCNA 40% AFP 40% Ninth Workers’ Party congress 50% Workers’ Party ×260% Washington ×360% Pyongyang ×370% United States ×390% North Korea ×590% Kim Jong-un ×2100%

Keywords

north korea 100% united states 90% nuclear weapons 80% kim jong-un 80% dialogue 70% confrontation 70% nuclear-armed state 60% north korea-us relations 60% icbm 50% workers’ party congress 40%