SEOUL: North Korean President Kim Jong Un announced a departure from the long-standing goal of reconciling with South Korea, marking a crucial moment in his foreign policy stance. The move, unveiled during this week’s parliamentary session, calls for a rewriting of North Korea’s constitution to eliminate the notion of peaceful unification, solidifying South Korea as an “invariable principal enemy.”
This unexpected shift is viewed as the culmination of years of rising tension between the two Koreas, exacerbated by the collapse of Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with former US President Donald Trump in Hanoi in 2019. Since then, inter-Korean relations have steadily deteriorated, accompanied by the accelerated expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and repeated threats of nuclear war against both Washington and Seoul.
Kim’s recent characterization of South Korea as “top-class stooges” of America is seen as a strategic move to diminish South Korea’s regional influence while potentially paving the way for direct US-North Korean nuclear talks. The change in approach comes amid Kim’s efforts to break out of diplomatic isolation and strengthen regional ties, particularly leveraging tensions between major powers.
North Korea’s Overtures Towards Russia and China
North Korea’s recent overtures towards Russia and China, along with Kim’s participation in a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September, illustrate Pyongyang’s attempts to play a role in what Kim terms a “new Cold War.” Analysts suggest that Kim’s confidence in making these changes stems from his advanced nuclear and missile capabilities and support from Russia and China.
The rejection of South Korea as a potential intermediary is a departure from previous strategies, where Seoul was considered instrumental in extracting concessions from Washington. The move aligns with Kim’s efforts to establish direct dealings with the US while sidelining South Korea, which is now perceived as an obstacle to North Korea’s regional ambitions.
Kim’s directive to eliminate symbols of inter-Korean reconciliation, including a cross-border railway section and a unification monument in Pyongyang, is part of a broader campaign to erase the concept of reunification and strengthen North Korea’s separate identity.
While some speculate that Kim aims to force Washington to accept North Korea as a nuclear power, others see this move as a tactic to raise tensions during a US election year, with an eye on eventual talks with the incoming administration.
