Kim Jong-un calls U.S. 'biggest enemy' at N. Korea's 8th Workers' Party Congress
김정은 "미국에 강대강, 선대선... 남에는 합의 이행하는 만큼 상대" North Korea is now holding its 8th Workers' Party Congress in Pyeongyang. There have been some messages for Seoul and Washington from Kim Jong-un. The regime's leader also mentioned the country's new and improved national defense capabilities. Our Han Seong-woo has the details. Calling the United States its biggest enemy, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to take an "eye for an eye" approach in dealing with the U.S. According to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim said the essence of Washington's North Korea policy wouldn't change regardless of who comes to power... an apparent message aimed at the incoming Joe Biden administration. Observers are interpreting it as an indirect warning against hostility towards the North... and a request for the U.S. to withdraw anti-North Korea measures. Indicating that physical aggression is always an option when threatened, Kim rolled out goals to boost military strength... calling for improvements in missile strike capabilities targeting objects within a range of 15,000 kilometers and hypersonic aircraft development. The leader also officially confirmed for the first time that a new nuclear submarine is in its final stages of examination. Also introduced was a 5-year economic plan focused on self-reliance but lacking any concrete details. On South Korea, Kim said the regime's current relationship with its neighbor has regressed to the days before the Panmunjeom Declaration of 2018. He expressed dissatisfaction at Seoul's recent national defense enhancements and joint military excercises with the U.S. Kim demanded Seoul faithfully carry out its inter-Korean commitments. South Korea's Ministry of Unification responded on Saturday by saying it is fully committed to implementing the agreements and creating peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. Inter-Korean relations have stalled since 2019, with sanctions standing in the way of cross-border cooperation. Ties chilled further last year when the North destroyed an inter-Korean joint liaison office in anger over anti-Pyeongyang leaflets in June and killed a South Korean fisheries official drifting near its western sea border in September. Kim did leave room for improvement in the two Koreas' relationship, though, saying they could return to the "spring" of three years prior depending on Seoul's attitude towards the North. The 8th Workers' Party Congress, which kicked off Tuesday in Pyeongyang, is still ongoing. While it's unknown how long it will last, the regime may hold a military parade to highlight the event's significance. Han Seong-woo, Arirang News. #NORTH_KOREA #Kim_Jongun #PARTY_CONGRESS 📣 Arirang News(Facebook) : / arirangtvnews 📣 Arirang News(Twitter) : / arirangtvnews 📣 News Center(YouTube) : / newscenter_arirangtv 2021-01-09, 18:00 (KST)
