Kim Jong Un threatens South Korea with a “merciless” response while promising “irreversible” nuclear status.

According to state media on Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated that the nation will soon declare South Korea the “most hostile state” and that it will never give up nuclear weapons.

In a policy speech on Monday, Kim also claimed that the United States was engaging in “state terrorism”—possibly referring to its military assaults on Iran—to the nation’s rubber-stamp lawmakers.

“We will continue to firmly consolidate our status as a nuclear-armed state as an irreversible course, while aggressively stepping up our struggle against hostile forces,” Kim told the Supreme People’s Assembly.

“We will, in line with the mission entrusted by the Constitution of the Republic… further expand and advance our self-defensive nuclear deterrent,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Although the United States and Israel claim that their attacks on Iran are intended to prevent the Islamic republic from obtaining nuclear weapons—a claim Tehran disputes—Pyongyang’s atomic programs are believed to be far further advanced.

The Chinese ally is said to possess scores of nuclear bombs and the fissile material for many more, despite years of sanctions and diplomatic isolation.Additionally, the impoverished communist nation has disclosed ever-more-advanced delivery systems, like as new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles that may launch unexpectedly. Six nuclear tests have been conducted by it. Kim did not hold back when criticizing his neighbor to the south, only one day after he was reappointed as head of the State Affairs Commission, the highest policymaking body in the authoritarian country.

“We will designate South Korea as the most hostile state and deal with it by thoroughly rejecting and disregarding it,” Kim said.

The announcement came despite repeated overtures by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, a doveish leader who took office in June, for dialogue without preconditions. Pyongyang has ignored these gestures.

Pyongyang will “make it pay mercilessly – without the slightest consideration or hesitation – for any act that infringes upon our Republic,” Kim added.

Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said that Kim’s comments on consolidating its nuclear status reflect “the extent to which Kim and the leadership perceive the current US actions with deep concern and seriousness”.

“It indicates that Kim and the leadership, viewing recent US attacks on Venezuela and Iran with grave concern, interpret these developments as reinforcing their decision to pursue the further advancement of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities,” Hong told AFP.

In recent months, Washington has pushed to revive high-level talks with Beijing, eyeing a possible summit with Kim this year, potentially around US President Donald Trump’s delayed visit to Beijing in April.

“The United States and its allies are constantly bringing nuclear strategic assets into the areas surrounding our country, shaking the foundations of regional security,” Kim said.

“The United States is carrying out acts of state terrorism and aggression across the world, but the arrogant and reckless exercise of its power has not weakened progressive humanity’s will to oppose domination and subjugation and to achieve independence and equality.”