The agency quoted Kim as saying during the “Self Defense Expo 2021” that the United States is the “root cause” of the instability on the peninsula.
Washington has made repeated calls to Pyongyang for dialogue, and has repeatedly denied any hostile intentions towards North Korea, but the North Korean leader said during the defense exhibition that he had no reason to “believe that it (the United States) is not hostile” towards his country.
“I am very curious to know if there are people or countries that think so,” he added.
The North Korean leader stressed that the actions of the United States contradict its statements in this regard. “There is no basis in her actions to believe that she is not hostile,” he said.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has repeatedly announced its willingness to meet with North Korean officials anywhere, anytime, without preconditions, as part of efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, but Pyongyang has refused.
Pyongyang is subject to international sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic programs, which have made significant progress under Kim.
The North Korean leader’s statement came after his country in recent weeks tested highly advanced missiles, including a long-range cruise missile, a hypersonic missile and an anti-aircraft missile.
North Korea is prohibited by United Nations Security Council resolutions from developing its nuclear or ballistic arsenal, but it does not care about this ban, which has brought it back with multiple international sanctions.
In 2017, the United Nations Security Council, at the initiative of the administration of US President Donald Trump, issued three resolutions imposing severe economic sanctions on Pyongyang after it conducted a nuclear and missile tests.
North Korea has not yet shown any willingness to give up its arsenal, which it says it needs to defend itself against any attack by Washington, Seoul’s ally, which has 28,500 troops deployed in South Korea to protect it from its northern neighbor.
In his speech, Kim accused Seoul of “hypocrisy”, saying that “their frivolous and dangerous attempts to consolidate military power undermine the military balance on the Korean Peninsula and increase military instability and dangers.”
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