In his keynote speech at the first session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un officially declared South Korea a hostile state, the Korean Central News Agency reported.
“We will especially regard South Korea as the most hostile state, rejecting and completely ignoring it with the clearest words and actions“, he said.
The North Korean leader added that any possible encroachment by South Korea against the DPRK will be met with merciless retaliation.
“For any actions by South Korea that affect our republic, we will make it pay a merciless price without the slightest thought or hesitation“, Kim Jong-un warned.
At the end of February, the North Korean leader expressed his complete rejection of any relations with South Korea, once again emphasizing the principle of two separate and hostile states, noting that even the UN has registered the two countries as two separate states. According to him, “there is nothing left“ in relations with Seoul, and if there is, it is only “cold calculation“ based on Pyongyang's national interests, and “resolute response“.
The South Korean government calls on the DPRK for peaceful coexistence and declares “hostile rhetoric“ destructive.
This position was expressed by the South Korean presidential administration, commenting on Kim Jong-un's statements.
“The government believes that constant hostile rhetoric is not is conducive to peaceful coexistence“, Yonhap news agency quoted the administration as saying.
“The path to shared prosperity between the South and the North and stability on the Korean Peninsula lies through dialogue and cooperation, not hostility and conflict“, Seoul added. The South Korean government said it would continue to consistently pursue a policy of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
Regarding Pyongyang's strengthening of its nuclear arsenal and Seoul's lack of one, the South Korean defense ministry said it was monitoring North Korea's actions and supporting its defense alongside the United States.