Does North Korea want to improve relations with the USA?

However, a condition was set. Washington would have to respect the current status of the DPRK and withdraw its hostile policy—primarily referring to North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons. At the same time, the leader emphasized that there was no possibility of improving relations with South Korea. He stated that Pyongyang had “absolutely no interest” in maintaining ties with its neighbor and would permanently exclude its citizens from the “category of compatriots.”

On February 25, a military parade was held to conclude the Workers’ Party Congress—an event that traditionally sets the direction of state policy for the next five years. The parade featured North Korean military units that had fought on Russia’s side in Ukraine. Participation in the Russo-Ukrainian war allowed North Korea to showcase its capabilities under combat conditions. The country is generally associated only with its brutal regime and nuclear weapons, which it uses to threaten South Korea and the United States. It should be noted, however, that North Korean soldiers did not distinguish themselves compared to other Russian units.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung responded to Kim Jong Un’s remarks, arguing that efforts to build trust and find common ground with the northern neighbor must continue. “The long-standing hostility (…) cannot be eliminated in an instant. We must continuously strive for dialogue and cooperation to build trust. Only then will structural peace and stability ultimately prevail on the Korean Peninsula.”

The North Korean regime is shifting its previously hostile narrative toward the United States and attempting to take advantage of the policy pursued by Donald Trump. The President of the United States is disrupting the liberal international order by confronting Western partners. In such an environment, many countries will see an opportunity to elevate their status on the international stage. Kim Jong Un is attempting to seize such an opportunity. The possibility of a meeting between Donald Trump and the North Korean leader—similar to the Hanoi summit held in 2019—cannot be ruled out.