North Korea says it will no longer seek reunification with South Korea and will launch new spy satellites in 2024

(CNN) — Kim Jong Un announced that North Korea will no longer seek reconciliation and reunification with South Korea, as his country promised to launch three new military spy satellites into orbit in 2024.

Kim said inter-Korean relations “have become the relationship between two enemy countries and two countries at war,” state news agency KCNA reported.

“Now is the time for us to accept reality and clarify our relations with the South,” Kim said. He said that if Washington and Seoul attempted a military confrontation with Pyongyang, its “nuclear war deterrent would not hesitate to take serious measures.”

“I think it is a mistake that we should no longer deal with those who declare us the ‘chief enemy’ and only look for opportunities for ‘the collapse of (our) regime’ and ‘unification by termination’ ‘Want to cooperate for reconciliation and unification,” Kim said.

North and South Korea have been isolated since the end of the Korean War in 1953, which ended with an armistice. The two sides are still technically at war, but both governments have long pursued the goal of one day reunifying.

Relations have had ups and downs over the past few decades, but tensions have remained particularly high in recent years after Kim Jong Un pursued the country’s nuclear weapons program in defiance of international sanctions.

Last week, KCNA reported that Kim had instructed the country’s military, munitions industry, nuclear weapons and civil defense sectors to accelerate war preparations in response to the United States’ “confrontational measures.”

At the time, KCNA described the political and military situation on the Korean Peninsula as “serious” and said it had reached a “peak” point because of Washington.

Kim’s latest comments on reunification were significant, according to Hu Chiw-ping, a member of the East Asian International Relations Caucus (EAIR) and a member of the Asia Pacific Nuclear Advisory Panel (APNAP), who said the North Korean leader has consistently been “differenced” in recent years. “Moving away from Korean relations”.

“This will mark an important milestone on the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea will vigorously reject any future extension of the olive branch by the South Korean administration,” Hu told CNN.

Pyongyang, he said, is “more interested in expanding ties with current allies such as China and Russia and a select network of countries around the world that will continue to enable its proliferation and financial access.”

“The United States, South Korea and Japan are currently excluded from Kim’s strategic reach.”

On July 13, 2023, a ballistic missile was launched from an undisclosed location in North Korea. KCNA/Reuters

spy satellite

After a series of failures, North Korea said in November it had launched its first spy satellite into orbit.

Analysts said that if the spacecraft works, it could significantly improve North Korea’s military capabilities, including allowing it to more accurately target opposing forces.

Kim praised the achievement and celebrated with workers at the launch site, according to images published by state media. South Korea described the launch as a “clear violation” of a UN Security Council resolution banning North Korea from using ballistic missile technology.

On Sunday, KCNA said North Korea planned to boost that program with three additional spy satellites in the new year.

“Based on the experience of successfully launching and operating the first reconnaissance satellite in 2023, it was announced that the task of launching three additional reconnaissance satellites in 2024 will vigorously pursue the development of space science and technology,” the statement said. Will promote.”

During 2023, Pyongyang also launched a series of ICBM tests, including a long-range liquid-fueled missile called the Hwasong-17 ICBM on December 17, which defense experts and regional observers said North Koreans ” “Mature” look. Missile program.

“Although North Korea, like all countries, has failed missile tests, it is clear that the overall reliability of North Korea’s missiles is quite respectable,” said Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute’s James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. International Studies. he previously told CNN.

North Korea’s evidence and strong rhetoric could work in Washington’s favor, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

“The North Korean threat is prompting greater trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea, including real-time exchange of missile tracking data. “Officials in Seoul knew this ICBM test was going to happen and had coordinated in advance with partners in Washington and Tokyo,” he said.