In an announcement over the weekend, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement what he described as the “toughest anti-U.S. counteraction” ever within the communist country’s history.
The leader told his followers that they would crack down on America’s Western policies during a recent five-day Workers’ Party meeting, a sentiment the country has expressed consistently since the Korean War.
The recent declaration from the “juche” ideologist illustrates Pyongyang’s increasing hostility toward Washington, especially as geopolitical tensions rise in East Asia.
Kim’s speech, reported by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), took direct aim once again at the United States, which he accused of spearheading anti-communism as a state policy. He further criticized U.S. alliances with South Korea and Japan and said that North Korea must pursue decisive strategies to safeguard its long-term national interests and overall security.
“This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance, and what we should do and how,” the KCNA declared.
However, During Trump’s first term, the two countries’ relationship transitioned from fiery threats to unprecedented diplomacy, culminating in Trump becoming the first sitting U.S. president to set foot in North Korea, as previously covered by DX.
This relationship has been strained, however, as North Korea has continued to align itself increasingly with Russia’s recent military movements. Both countries have a long relationship boosted by shared interests, both economic and foreign policy.
In June, Vladimir Putin visited North Korea for the first time in 24 years, signing a “strategic partnership agreement” and thanking Kim Jong-un for his support. As previously reported by DX, the two leaders have deepened their relationship throughout 2024, as shown by their consistent arms trade following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Some experts warn that Kim’s remarks may signal an escalation in North Korea’s military activities. The regime has already ramped up missile testing in recent months, raising alarms in Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington, per a report from Audacy.
For now, North Korea’s stance remains clear: a firm commitment, as always, to boosting its military defenses. Yet, as Kim Jong Un remains laser-focused on boosting military operations, the majority of his country continues to suffer from widespread famine adjacent to a plethora of persistent human rights violations, all of which have been consistently documented by the United Nations Security Council.