Kim Jong Un dubs South Korea as 'main enemy', dampening hopes of reunification

During a speech to the Supreme People's Assembly, the North Korean parliament, Kim Jong Un professed his belief that reunification with the South is now an impossibility. Concurrently, he blamed Seoul for plotting the downfall of North Korea and their subsequent reunification through assimilation, as reported by Reuters.

The dictator advocated for a change of the constitution to ensure North Koreans view South Korea as the "main enemy". He also suggested that measures should be in place for the "full subjugation and recovery" of South Korea if a war were to occur. Moreover, he urged severing diplomatic ties and the destruction of the monument in Pyongyang that represents the efforts towards reunification.

Reuters, quoting the North Korean news agency KCNA, reported that Kim also pronounced the closure of all organizations engaged in North and South unification tasks.

In his speech, Kim held South Korea and the United States accountable for escalating regional tension, with their expanded military exercises among the triggers. "War will devastate South Korea and result in substantial losses for the United States," he threatened.

Simultaneously, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was conducting a cabinet meeting in Seoul. He commented that labeling the South as hostile exposes Pyongyang's "anti-government" character. He added that any provocation from the North would elicit a "stern" response from the South.