North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has vowed to implement the “toughest” strategy to counter the United States, according to state media on Sunday. The announcement came after a key year-end party meeting, where Kim addressed top officials about the country’s direction for 2025.
During the five-day meeting, Kim’s speech emphasized the need for aggressive counteractions against the US, which he described as the “most reactionary state” due to its staunch anti-communism stance. The North also criticized the growing military ties between South Korea, the US, and Japan, labeling it a “nuclear military bloc for aggression.”
The meeting further condemned South Korea as a “complete anti-communist outpost of the US” and highlighted the strategic direction North Korea should pursue. Kim’s address outlined a plan for the harshest anti-US response, though specific details were not revealed. In addition to discussing military matters, the meeting also reviewed the country’s response to recent flooding and emphasized strengthening relations with “friendly” nations. Kim’s speeches in such meetings often signal major policy shifts.
The KCNA report follows claims from Seoul’s military that over a thousand North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded in Ukraine, where North Korea has been involved through a military deal with Russia. North Korea and Russia have deepened military ties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with a new defense pact coming into effect this month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently sent a New Year’s message to Kim, celebrating the elevated bilateral ties after their summit in Pyongyang last June. The expanding military cooperation between North Korea and Russia has been condemned by Ukraine’s allies as a dangerous escalation in the conflict.
