Flashpoints | Security | East Asia

Kim Jong Un Formalizes South Korea as ‘Primary Hostile State’

Addressing the 15th SPA, Kim enshrined permanent enmity with Seoul and declared his regime “ready for any choice” from the United States.

In this photo from North Korean state media, Kim Jong Un delivers an address at the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, Mar. 23, 2026.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has formally designated South Korea as the country’s “most hostile state,” marking a definitive legal and ideological break in inter-Korean relations. According to the North’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim codified a permanent state of enmity while signaling a “ready for any choice” posture toward the United States in his speech delivered on March 23 during the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA).

The declaration represents the final institutionalization of the “two hostile states” doctrine Kim first introduced in late 2023. By addressing the rubber-stamp parliament, Kim effectively elevated the exclusion of South Korea from a partner for reconciliation to a matter of supreme state policy.

“Especially, [we must] officially recognize South Korea as the most hostile state and treat it with thorough rejection and disregard through the most explicit language and actions,” Kim said. He further emphasized that any perceived provocation from Seoul would be met with an immediate, overwhelming response. 

“Regarding any act by South Korea that touches our Republic, we will make them pay the price mercilessly, without the slightest hesitation or consideration,” Kim added.

The speech also served as a platform for Kim to project a more aggressive nuclear stance. Accusing the United States of “state terrorism and aggression,” Kim asserted that North Korea has moved beyond being a nation that merely endures threats to one that possesses the power to pose a threat when necessary. This shift signifies that Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal is no longer just a passive deterrent but a proactive tool of strategic pressure.

Crucially, Kim maintained a calculated ambiguity regarding future engagement with Washington. 

“Whether our adversaries choose confrontation or peaceful coexistence is a choice for them to make, and we are prepared to respond to any choice,” Kim declared, underscoring that Pyongyang will prioritize its nuclear-armed state status over diplomatic concessions.

Domestically, Kim announced a significant overhaul of the legal system, including the establishment of a specialized “police system.” This police system seems to be Kim’s strategic move to modernize his internal security apparatus, ensuring absolute social control and curbing potential ideological erosion following the total break from the South. 

Furthermore, Kim’s mention of constitutional supplements suggested an imminent redefinition of maritime borders, potentially setting the stage for physical conflict near the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

By formally enshrining South Korea as a permanent enemy, Kim has effectively welded shut the door to inter-Korean dialogue. The focus now shifts to how this legislative hostility will translate into a more aggressive foreign policy aimed at direct nuclear recognition from major powers while completely isolating its southern neighbor.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has formally designated South Korea as the country’s “most hostile state,” marking a definitive legal and ideological break in inter-Korean relations. According to the North’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim codified a permanent state of enmity while signaling a “ready for any choice” posture toward the United States in his speech delivered on March 23 during the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA).

The declaration represents the final institutionalization of the “two hostile states” doctrine Kim first introduced in late 2023. By addressing the rubber-stamp parliament, Kim effectively elevated the exclusion of South Korea from a partner for reconciliation to a matter of supreme state policy.

“Especially, [we must] officially recognize South Korea as the most hostile state and treat it with thorough rejection and disregard through the most explicit language and actions,” Kim said. He further emphasized that any perceived provocation from Seoul would be met with an immediate, overwhelming response. 

“Regarding any act by South Korea that touches our Republic, we will make them pay the price mercilessly, without the slightest hesitation or consideration,” Kim added.

The speech also served as a platform for Kim to project a more aggressive nuclear stance. Accusing the United States of “state terrorism and aggression,” Kim asserted that North Korea has moved beyond being a nation that merely endures threats to one that possesses the power to pose a threat when necessary. This shift signifies that Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal is no longer just a passive deterrent but a proactive tool of strategic pressure.

Crucially, Kim maintained a calculated ambiguity regarding future engagement with Washington. 

“Whether our adversaries choose confrontation or peaceful coexistence is a choice for them to make, and we are prepared to respond to any choice,” Kim declared, underscoring that Pyongyang will prioritize its nuclear-armed state status over diplomatic concessions.

Domestically, Kim announced a significant overhaul of the legal system, including the establishment of a specialized “police system.” This police system seems to be Kim’s strategic move to modernize his internal security apparatus, ensuring absolute social control and curbing potential ideological erosion following the total break from the South. 

Furthermore, Kim’s mention of constitutional supplements suggested an imminent redefinition of maritime borders, potentially setting the stage for physical conflict near the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

By formally enshrining South Korea as a permanent enemy, Kim has effectively welded shut the door to inter-Korean dialogue. The focus now shifts to how this legislative hostility will translate into a more aggressive foreign policy aimed at direct nuclear recognition from major powers while completely isolating its southern neighbor.

Mitch Shin is a chief correspondent for The Diplomat, covering the Korean Peninsula. He is also a non-resident research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies and associate fellow for the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.

15th Supreme People's Assembly

Inter-Korean relations

North Korea hostile state designation

North Korea two-state theory

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