North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his government to be prepared for both dialogue and confrontation with the Biden administration - but more for confrontation, state media reported on Friday. The order comes days after the United States and others urged North Korea to abandon its nuclear program and return to talks.
Experts say, Kim's statement indicates he'll likely push to strengthen his nuclear arsenal and increase pressure on Washington to give up what North Korea considers a hostile U.S. policy, though he'll also prepare for talks to resume.
During an ongoing ruling party meeting Thursday, Kim analysed in detail the policy tendencies of the U.S. under President Joe Biden and clarified unspecified steps to be taken in relations with Washington.
Kim "stressed the need to get prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, especially to get fully prepared for confrontation in order to protect the dignity of our state and its interests for independent development and to reliably guarantee the peaceful environment and the security of our state."
In 2018-19, Kim held a series of summits with then-President Donald Trump to discuss his advancing nuclear arsenal. But their negotiations fell apart after Trump rejected Kim's calls for extensive sanctions relief in return for a partial surrender of his nuclear capability. Biden's administration has worked to formulate a new approach on North Korea's nuclear program that it describes as "calibrated and practical."