North Korea and the World: Strategic Implications of the 9th Party Congress and the Reality of the Adversarial Two-State Theory

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znpgDHp3NzU

■ Author: Park Won-gon_Director, EAI Center for North Korean Studies. Professor, Department of North Korean Studies, Ewha Womans University.

■ Contact: Lim Jae-hyun_EAI Researcher

Inquiries: 02 2277 1683 (ext. 209) | jhlim@eai.or.kr

Video Script

North Korea's Evolving External Perceptions and Strengthening Nuclear Capabilities

At the 9th Party Congress, considerations regarding South Korea were nullified. Now, they can do as they please with South Korea. Hello. Thank you to everyone watching Park Won-gon's North Korea and the World. Today, we will return to North Korea. In the first half of 2026, there were very important events for North Korea. The most important event was the 9th Party Congress. The Party Congress is the highest decision-making body in the North Korean system. It is held every five years. During Kim Jong-il's era, it was not held for 36 years, but it was first held under Kim Jong-un, and this was the 9th Party Congress. There was considerable discussion, and Kim Jong-un also spoke on various matters in the subsequent first session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly. Today, we will discuss two points, focusing on Kim Jong-un's remarks at the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, held from February 19 to 25, 2026, and the first session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly, held on March 23. First is North Korea's external perception. Second, linked to this, is North Korea's

South Korea policy. We will analyze what the theory of two hostile states means and how Kim Jong-un discussed it. Given the characteristics of the North Korean system, Kim Jong-un's statements themselves carry significant meaning, and it is clear that what emerges from these statements becomes the basis for North Korea's strategic policies. Kim Jong-un spoke in considerable detail at the 9th Party Congress and the first session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly. He revealed several key external perceptions. First, the perception that the world is increasingly

operating based on power. This is not unique to North Korea; many in the world think similarly. Recently, many events have been orchestrated with the United States at the center, such as the situation with Maduro in Venezuela and the war in Iran. Power takes precedence, and the starting point for this will be Russia's invasion of Ukraine. North Korea also appears to agree with a world order where power is paramount. Of course, North Korea describes it as a situation of disorder where national sovereignty is violated and international law is disregarded, but their core target is the United States. They perceive the world as becoming chaotic because the US-led Western powers are using force and wielding power. The attack during the process of arresting Venezuelan President Maduro can be interpreted as a statement directed at the United States. Overall, Kim Jong-un argues that because the US possesses this imperialist, aggressive nature, the world has become more overtly governed by power. Second, the idea that in a world

based on power, possessing and developing nuclear capabilities is essential. Naturally, from North Korea's perspective, nuclear capabilities are necessary for self-defense in a power-centric world. As they always say, because the US possesses nuclear weapons, North Korea must respond with nuclear weapons. To quote Kim Jong-un precisely, he insists that the journey of strengthening nuclear forces will continue and states that North Korea will never give up nuclear weapons, regardless of any assurances or promises of economic aid from the United States. One point to note here is that North Korea does not possess nuclear weapons merely for self-defense. It goes a step further, clearly assigning meaning to them as weapon systems for attacking South Korea.

The nuclear weapons North Korea is developing and possesses are not just for self-defense; they are a supreme treasure beyond self-defense, capable of attacking South Korea and serving as more than just weapon systems. Kim Jong-un reiterates that this is his greatest achievement and is linked to the legitimacy of the regime itself. To quote Kim Jong-un, he claims that these weapons firmly guarantee and drive the development of all sectors of the country, including the economy and culture, as well as the livelihood of the people. This goes beyond a mere military purpose for possessing nuclear weapons. He then articulated a certain line: the strategic line of self-reliance and strengthening nuclear forces. The fact that he explicitly used the term 'line' suggests it carries a specific meaning. Third, bloc politics are solidifying in the Asia-Pacific region. He critically discusses the expansion and strengthening of aggressive blocs. He implies that the Western bloc, centered around the United States, is building blocs to attack blocs including North Korea, China, and Russia. Therefore, North Korea calls for the unity and resistance of forces of independence against the coercive power and arrogance of the United States. This was one of the topics discussed; since 2021, Kim Jong-un has emphasized new Cold War bloc politics. Naturally, from North Korea's perspective, the more such blocs are formed, the more they can gain recognition for their nuclear possession within them, and maintain a completely separate economic system like during the Cold War, thereby overcoming sanctions as an economic model. Thus, the formation of blocs is most important for North Korea.

However, North Korea used the term 'new Cold War' until 2022-2023 but has recently stopped using it, likely because China views the term 'new Cold War' very critically. Therefore, while they do not use the expression, their efforts to build blocs are prominently displayed, and it is reconfirmed in the speeches at the 9th Party Congress and the 15th Supreme People's Assembly that North Korea intends to play a key role in building these blocs. Finally, he expresses a deterministic view of history. Determinism, in this context, suggests that communist societies are the final stage of human history, implying that history is already moving in a predetermined direction. He reiterates this in his speech. He claims that although the US and the West are leading the world into chaos and perpetuating domination and subjugation, the resistance of progressive humanity, which ultimately rejects this, will triumph.

The 'progressive humanity' referred to here means the democratic bloc centered around North Korea, ultimately referring to socialist countries. These countries will triumph, and Kim Jong-un describes this as a lawful process of historical development and inevitability. There is a discourse North Korea is currently promoting: a fair and just multipolar world. This is a very frequently mentioned topic, not only in North Korea but also in Russia and China. These countries consistently argue that the unipolar system centered on the US can evolve into a multipolar system centered on the US and China, or even more poles. They continue to express hopes and desires for such a development. Therefore, North Korea is saying the same thing: a fair and just multipolar world will be built.

They express this through a deterministic view of history. North Korea is championing the value of self-reliance and actively promoting it as a central nation. This is believed to be their overall external perception. Now, let's discuss the South Korea policy. Based on the 9th Party Congress and the speeches at the 15th Supreme People's Assembly in the second half of 2026, it is clearly demonstrated that the relationship with South Korea has been institutionalized not merely as two states, but as two hostile states. The 9th Party Congress explicitly states the following logic for viewing South Korea as a hostile state:

South Korea Policy Institutionalized as Two Hostile States

First, the relationship with South Korea is the most hostile state-to-state relationship. Second, this decision is final and a grave resolution, representing an unchangeable, principled stance. They state it will never change. Third, the reason for this decision is that successive South Korean governments have disseminated culture and aimed to collapse the North Korean system. Finally, this is a historic choice to guarantee the present and future safety of the North Korean people. They argue forcefully that this is a final decision and will continue indefinitely. They state that South Korea is no longer a fellow countrymen and they will never sit down together again.

In the first session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Jong-un's speech expressed a very strong policy towards South Korea. He stated that South Korea is recognized as the most hostile state, and any actions by South Korea that provoke our Republic, with the clearest words and deeds, will be met with merciless retribution without the slightest consideration or hesitation. North Korea's rhetoric is always strong and harsh. However, the fact that it has reached this level, especially coming from Kim Jong-un's speech, warrants our attention. It clearly confirms that they will not engage in any meaningful relationship with South Korea, and that they are emphasizing the meaning of hostility.

Furthermore, they are taking practical measures to implement this line. The process of reorganizing inter-Korean exchange, dialogue, and cooperation bodies and organizations, and abolishing related laws, has been ongoing since the theory of two hostile states was first introduced at the 8th Party's 9th Plenary Meeting in December 2023. Additionally, North Korea refers to the Military Demarcation Line as the inter-Korean border. This time, Kim Jong-un has instructed to fortify it and reinforce the border control and firepower systems as soon as possible. He then gives very specific instructions regarding the capability to attack South Korea as a primary objective:

The conventional weapons possessed by the North Korean military, referring to conventional weapons, are to be updated into world-class, great weapons. This is a directive to expand conventional capabilities for attacking South Korea. Specific weapon systems are also mentioned: 600mm multiple rocket launchers, 240mm multiple rocket launchers, and tactical missile comprehensive acquisition. These are strategic weapon systems targeting South Korea, and along with the aforementioned line, this is also announced as a line for modernizing the Party's military. This line is directed towards South Korea, and it is confirmed as their strategic policy to prepare for and accelerate military strikes against it. There is a very important statement in the speech delivered at the 9th Party Congress.

North Korea's Concept of Hostility Entails the Occupation of South Korean Territory

Considerations regarding South Korea have been nullified. What does this mean? Previously, when they considered South Korea as fellow countrymen, they possessed and developed nuclear weapons for self-defense, not for attacking South Korea. However, now that South Korea is considered a hostile state, all such considerations have been eliminated. Consequently, preemptive strikes are possible, and the use of all physical force against a hostile nation is theoretically and technically feasible. They can now attack South Korea with nuclear weapons as they please. This was already confirmed by statements from Kim Jong-un and Kim Yo-jong in 2022, and it has now been institutionally reaffirmed at the 9th Party Congress, the highest political body in North Korea.

It can be seen as a reaffirmation that preemptive strikes, including nuclear ones, are now possible without reservation. This is being discussed domestically in various forums and sectors. The core of the 'two hostile states' theory that North Korea speaks of is 'hostility.' What North Korea means by 'hostile' is not merely protecting North Korea defensively, but ultimately occupying its territory by their own means, achieving 'territorial integrity,' when it comes to hostile South Korea. Following the 8th Party's 9th Plenary Meeting in December 2023, Kim Jong-un clearly stated at the Armed Forces Founding Day on April 8, 2024, that their national objective is to occupy the territory of the Republic of Korea using their armed forces, including nuclear weapons, in case of emergency – what they call 'territorial completion.' The theory of two hostile states that North Korea espouses does not imply peaceful coexistence through mutual recognition between the South and North, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. Nor is it a confrontational relationship as we understand it. Ultimately, the final stage of a declared hostile relationship involves the elimination of the enemy.

Therefore, the theory of two hostile states that North Korea speaks of implies preemptive strikes, including the occupation of South Korean territory if necessary. Consequently, there are concerns about how well South Korean society truly understands North Korea's theory of two hostile states. What North Korea means by 'hostile' is not to leave South Korea alone, but to include the occupation of South Korean territory, or 'territorial completion,' if necessary, in times of emergency, or if an opportunity arises. Regarding the various weapon systems aimed at South Korea, such as the 600mm multiple rocket launchers, new 240mm multiple rocket launchers, and tactical missiles, a significant portion of the weapons North Korea has developed since May 2019 have a range that includes South Korea. In this regard, they are clearly maintaining a very offensive and aggressive military posture, and their intention to attack South Korea through these means is clearly confirmed.

Therefore, when considering the theory of two hostile states as revealed through the 9th Party Congress and the 15th Supreme People's Assembly, it is essential to understand very clearly what North Korea possesses. That is all for today. Thank you.

I will conclude my remarks here for today. Thank you.