North Korean leader Kim Jong Un redefined South Korea as a hostile nation on Saturday during the country’s week-long plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, according to a report in the party daily Rodong Sinmun. Kim’s comments indicate a bleak outlook for inter-Korean relations, as he described the two Koreas as “two hostile countries in a state of war.” This marks a departure from North Korea's usual description of South Korea as part of the same but divided nation.

Kim emphasized that discussing reunification is inappropriate, referring to South Korea as “a colonial puppet of the United States.” He hinted that he would not seek better relations with the South, regardless of its political leadership. Kim faulted all South Korean administrations, both liberal and conservative, for adhering to the idea of “unification under a liberal democracy.” Kim stated that North Korea will launch three new military reconnaissance satellites in 2024 to “powerfully drive the development of space science and technology.”