The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has announced the adoption of "an extremely tough response strategy towards the US," according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The declaration was made during an expanded plenary session of the Workers' Party of Korea's central committee, held from December 23 to 27.

The session, chaired by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, reviewed the year’s political outcomes and charted the country’s priorities for the upcoming year. In his address, Kim emphasized the necessity of the strategy, stating it was vital to "protect North Korea’s future state interests and ensure its security."

KCNA reported Kim’s pointed criticism of the US, describing it as "the most reactionary state" due to its entrenched anti-communist policies. The DPRK leader condemned the expanding alliance between the US, Japan, and South Korea, referring to it as an "aggressive nuclear military bloc." He further criticized South Korea’s role, labeling it a "consistent anti-communist outpost for the US."

Kim also lauded what he termed "landmark achievements" in enhancing the nation's defense capabilities. The session outlined plans for an assertive foreign policy, which, according to KCNA, will align with the country's strategic goals and security needs.

Diplomacy reveals US hostility

Kim had in November declared that past diplomatic efforts with the United States only revealed Washington's "unchanging" hostility toward Pyongyang, according to state media reports on Friday.

His comments come months before Donald Trump is expected to return to the White House.

During his presidency, Trump met with Kim three times, but little progress was made toward efforts to denuclearize the DPRK. Since the collapse of their second summit in Hanoi in 2019, DPRK has abandoned diplomacy, focusing instead on advancing its weapons programs.

Speaking at a defense exhibition showcasing DPRK's advanced weaponry Thursday, Kim refrained from mentioning Trump directly but referred to the last high-level talks held during his administration.

"We have already gone as far as we can go with the United States as negotiators," Kim stated, according to the KCNA, adding, "What we became certain of is not the willingness of a great power to coexist."

Instead, Kim said, Pyongyang came to understand Washington's "thorough stance of power and an unchanging, invasive, and hostile policy toward North Korea."