Kim Jong-un says North has 'no reason not to get along' with U.S. if it drops hostile policy
Published: 26 Feb. 2026, 10:16
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- LIM JEONG-WON
- [email protected]
![North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, is seen alongside his daughter Kim Ju-ae during a military parade marking the Ninth Party Congress of the Workers' Party at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Feb. 25, in this photo carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/02/26/424f70d8-68db-4cfd-a539-c1d6febb8c5e.jpg)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, is seen alongside his daughter Kim Ju-ae during a military parade marking the Ninth Party Congress of the Workers' Party at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Feb. 25, in this photo carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. [YONHAP]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Pyongyang has no reason not to get along with the United States if Washington withdraws its hostile policy against the North, according to the North's state media Thursday.
Kim made the remarks during a policy review session held from Friday to Saturday at the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
"We have no reason not to get along with the United States if it respects our country's current status, as defined in the North Korean constitution, and drops its hostile policy toward North Korea," Kim was quoted as saying.
"The prospects of North Korea-U.S. relations entirely depend on the attitude of the U.S.," Kim said, adding the regime will take "corresponding" responses if Washington maintains its confrontational stance.
"Whether it's peaceful coexistence or eternal confrontation, we are prepared for both, and the choice is not ours," he said, handing the ball over to Washington.
The remarks suggest the North is leaving the door open for talks with Washington, as U.S. President Donald Trump's April visit to China is widely expected to provide an opportunity to resume summit talks with Kim, following the U.S. president's repeated overtures.
Kim's remarks reaffirmed his position that he would seek to improve relations only if the United States recognized his nuclear weapons status.
![North Korean soldiers clap during a youth parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Jan. 18, in this photo carried by the state-run Rodong Sinmun. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/02/26/ff57d3ca-4df4-4f72-8515-f04477e445a2.jpg)
North Korean soldiers clap during a youth parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Jan. 18, in this photo carried by the state-run Rodong Sinmun. [NEWS1]
"If the United States continues to engage in confrontational behavior without departing from its customary practices toward us, we will also consistently respond in proportion, and we have ample means and methods to achieve this," Kim said.
The North Korean leader also reasserted the country's status as a nuclear-armed state, vowing to further step up arms development.
"It is our party's firm and unwavering will to further strengthen state nuclear forces and thoroughly exercise nuclear-armed state status," Kim was quoted by the KCNA as saying.
"Our status as a nuclear-armed country plays an important role in deterring enemies' potential threats and maintaining regional stability," Kim said, calling the country's nuclear weapons "a guarantee and safety device" of its security and interests.
A military parade marking the Ninth Party Congress was also held Wednesday night, with the KCNA reporting that 50 foot and paratroop formations, including those representing various branches of the North Korean military, branches of the armed forces and specialized units, participated in the parade.
Also participating were tank divisions, mechanized infantry divisions, artillery assault divisions and overseas units that were deployed to the war in Ukraine.
BY LIM JEONG-WON, YONHAP [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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