North Korea plans nuclear buildup and sets US friendship conditions

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According to the agency, at the ruling party congress that concluded in Pyongyang, Kim announced plans to increase the amount of nuclear weapons and expand the means of their deployment. He stressed that Pyongyang intends to strengthen its status as a nuclear state and will focus on relevant projects in the coming years.

The North Korean leader also reported the development of more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, attack systems using artificial intelligence, and drones.

Kim outlined conditions for friendship between the US and North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also suggested the possibility of dialogue between his country and Washington.

“If the U.S. withdraws its policy of confrontation with North Korea by respecting our country's current status... there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the U.S.,” he said.

As Reuters notes, Kim has not yet responded to signals from US President Donald Trump, with whom he met three times during Trump’s first presidential term.

At the same time, Kim called South Korea the most hostile enemy and ruled out the possibility of negotiations with Seoul.

US President Donald Trump is openly dissatisfied with North Korea’s nuclear policy and that of its leader, Kim Jong Un. The expansion of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, as well as missile tests by Pyongyang, have caused irritation and tension in relations between the two countries.

In October 2025, the US president said he had developed warm relations with Kim, but because of Pyongyang’s nuclear policy, the US would at some point deal with North Korea.