North Korea Firmly Rejects South Korea’s Diplomatic Offer, Labels Seoul a “Permanent Enemy”

SEOUL — North Korea has swiftly dismissed diplomatic overtures from South Korea’s newly inaugurated administration, declaring any form of dialogue unwelcome and reaffirming that Seoul remains an immutable adversary.

In its first formal response to President Lee Jae Myung’s government, Kim Yo Jong—the North Korean leader’s younger sister and influential confidante—issued a stark rebuke: “Regardless of the policies pursued or proposals advanced by Seoul, we have zero interest; there is no cause to convene, nor any topic worthy of discussion.” Her remarks were carried by KCNA, the state-run news agency. The Korea Times

Since taking office in June, President Lee’s liberal administration has rolled back several hostile measures instituted under his conservative predecessor. These include ending propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, restricting activist-led leaflet balloon launches across the Demilitarized Zone, and repatriating stranded North Koreans seeking asylum in the South. Lee’s government has characterized these moves as sincere efforts at reconciliation.

Kim Yo Jong, however, dismissed such gestures as superficial and reversible policy shifts, criticizing Seoul’s enduring alliance with Washington and accusing it of maintaining a confrontational posture. Reference to next month’s joint South Korea–U.S. military exercises—a fixture Pyongyang views as an invasion rehearsal—further underscored her point.

North Korea has eschewed talks with both Washington and Seoul since nuclear diplomacy with former U.S. President Trump collapsed in 2019 over sanctions disputes. Kim Jong Un has since reinforced Pyongyang’s strategic focus on advancing its nuclear arsenal. The Independent

Currently, North Korea appears to be intensifying its partnership with Russia—sending weapons and possibly troops to support Moscow’s campaign in Ukraine, likely in exchange for military and technological aid that could bolster its missile and nuclear programs. Analysts warn this aligns with North Korea’s broader strategy to secure external allies as tensions with the West rise.

In a landmark move in early 2024, Kim Jong Un amended North Korea’s constitution, removing the long-standing goal of reunifying the Korean Peninsula under the North’s leadership. South Korea was officially reclassified as an “invariable principal enemy”—a shift that surprised foreign observers and underscored Pyongyang’s definitive break from earlier visions of peaceful unification.

Experts suggest Pyongyang’s rigid stance may serve multiple objectives: avoiding South Korean cultural infiltration, cementing dynastic rule, and legally justifying potential use of nuclear capabilities against the South.