Seoul – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sharply criticized the growing U.S.-South Korea-Japan security alliance, calling it a “grave threat” to North Korea’s security and promising to enhance his country’s nuclear weapons program in response. In a speech delivered on Saturday, marking the 77th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army, Kim denounced the trilateral military partnership, accusing the United States of orchestrating the alliance as part of a broader effort to create a NATO-like bloc in the region.
Kim’s statement underscores his ongoing refusal to engage in renewed diplomacy with the U.S., particularly following overtures from President Donald Trump. Kim’s rhetoric suggests that he is unlikely to embrace Trump’s invitation for further negotiations anytime soon.
According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim criticized the security collaboration between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, calling it a destabilizing force that threatens the balance of military power on the Korean Peninsula. Kim warned that the alliance posed a “grave challenge” to the security environment of North Korea and confirmed that his regime would “unwaveringly continue” developing its nuclear forces.
Kim’s comments reflect his continued focus on strengthening North Korea’s nuclear capabilities amid stalled diplomatic talks with Washington and Seoul in recent years. As the U.S. and South Korea have increased joint military exercises, often involving Japan, North Korea has repeatedly condemned these drills as provocative rehearsals for an invasion.
President Trump, who previously held three high-profile summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019, has expressed a desire to resume engagement with North Korea. Trump has also indicated that he is willing to reach out to Kim again, despite the collapse of talks over denuclearization. Trump recently stated that he believes he “stopped the war” in North Korea, drawing attention to his previous diplomatic efforts.
In a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday, Trump reiterated his intent to re-engage Kim, describing the North Korean leader as “a smart guy” and suggesting that the two could continue their dialogue. “I will, yeah,” Trump responded when asked whether he would reach out to Kim again.
Despite Trump’s willingness to revive talks, North Korea has not made any direct response to the latest diplomatic overtures. Kim’s government remains focused on weapons testing and harsh rhetoric against the U.S., while experts note that Kim’s current foreign policy priorities also include strengthening ties with Russia, particularly in support of Moscow’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
In his speech on Saturday, Kim reaffirmed North Korea’s support for Russia, accusing the U.S. of fueling the conflict in Ukraine. “North Korea will invariably support and encourage the just cause of the Russian army and people to defend their sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity,” he said.
In South Korea, there are concerns that Trump’s engagement with Kim could lead to a softening of the U.S. stance on North Korea’s nuclear program. Some fear that Trump may abandon the long-standing international goal of denuclearization in exchange for a diplomatic achievement. However, a joint statement released after the Trump-Ishiba summit reaffirmed the commitment of both leaders to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, while underscoring the importance of the trilateral U.S.-Japan-South Korea partnership in addressing the North Korean threat.
As tensions persist on the Korean Peninsula, the path forward remains unclear, with both North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and the ongoing military cooperation between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan likely to shape the future of regional security.