North Korea Dismisses Prospects of Reunification with South Korea and Announces Intent to Deploy Spy Satellites by 2024

North Korea has officially announced its decision to abandon any pursuit of reunification and reconciliation with South Korea. Leader Kim Jong Un has emphasized that relations between the two countries have evolved into a state of hostility and war, as conveyed by the state-run news agency KCNA.

Kim Jong Un articulated the need for North Korea to recognize and define its relationship with South Korea under these new circumstances. He warned that if the United States and South Korea were to engage in military confrontation with Pyongyang, North Korea’s nuclear deterrent would be readily activated.

The North Korean leader criticized the notion of seeking reconciliation with a nation that perceives them as a primary enemy, aiming for regime change and unification by absorption. He stated that such an approach is a mistake that should no longer be pursued.

Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, which concluded with an armistice, North and South Korea have remained separated, technically still at war. Despite this, both nations have historically expressed the aspiration for eventual reunification.

In a related development, North Korea’s state media reported plans to launch three additional spy satellites in 2024, reflecting an ongoing effort to enhance its military capabilities. This follows the successful deployment of a spy satellite last month, which Pyongyang claims has been providing intelligence on major US and South Korean military installations.

Over the past year, North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of weapons tests, including the launch of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in December. The decision to launch three more reconnaissance satellites in 2024 was highlighted as a key resolution at a year-end party meeting, according to KCNA.