Kim Jong-un Shouts "Break Through Head-On"... Leaves an Escape Route Open

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un presided over the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party at the Central Committee Headquarters on the 31st of last month, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 1st. The photo shows Chairman Kim raising his right hand.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and worldwide with a formal break from tradition by omitting the 2020 New Year's address and issuing a blunt threat described as "shocking actual actions." In his 2019 New Year's address, Kim hinted at a "new path," and at the start of 2020, he made it clear that this path involves a "direct breakthrough," "self-reliant economy," and "strategic weapons."

North Korea disclosed the results of the 7th Central Committee's 5th Plenary Meeting (hereafter referred to as the Party Plenary Meeting), held over four days from December 28 to 31, on January 1. The key keyword running through this outcome, which replaced the New Year's address, is "direct breakthrough." This term appears 23 times in the report by the North Korean state media, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It signifies the intention to overcome the unilateral U.S. demands for prior denuclearization, which threaten regime security, and the economic sanctions hindering development, through self-reliance.

Chairman Kim defined the direct breakthrough campaign as a "total collapse" of the "sanctions and blockade schemes." He acknowledged North Korea's difficult economic situation by stating, "The country's conditions have not noticeably improved," while referring to the sanctions environment. About 70% of the report focused on the "economy," indicating that the "economic front" is the top priority for the direct breakthrough. Kim urged that "we must accept as a given that we have to live under sanctions and strengthen internal capabilities in all areas."

The Korea Institute for National Unification analyzed, "This plenary meeting focused on enduring the prolonged sanctions, exposing their unfairness, and formulating domestic and international strategies to shake them." It also emphasized the significance of expressing a direct breakthrough will regarding "regime security." It made clear that there will be no denuclearization talks until the U.S. withdraws its "hostile policy toward North Korea," which demands prior denuclearization.

Hong Min, head of the North Korea Research Division at the Korea Institute for National Unification, stated, "This can be seen as an intention to enforce a denuclearization-for-security (including military threats and sanctions) exchange framework." He added, "The security demands also include the removal of the nuclear deterrent (the U.S. nuclear umbrella) provided to South Korea, which implies 'nuclear disarmament.'"

North Korea's demands lead to raising its bargaining chip through the development of "strategic weapons." Chairman Kim declared, "We firmly declare that we will persistently continue the essential and prerequisite development of strategic weapons for national security without interruption until the U.S. hostile policy toward the Korean Peninsula is withdrawn and a permanent and solid peace regime is established."

Hong explained, "The new strategic weapons are a key card to pressure the U.S. If strengthening the economy through self-reliance is the domestic card to respond to sanctions, then strategic weapons development is the card to pressure the U.S."

However, there are also observations that North Korea has not completely closed the door to dialogue. In fact, the report contained no criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, and the overall tone was considered very cautious. Kim indicated that "the scope and depth of our (nuclear) deterrent enhancement will be adjusted upward depending on the future U.S. stance toward North Korea," suggesting that there remains room for dialogue with the U.S.

Hong analyzed, "This reflects an intention to adjust the level of response while observing future developments such as the uncertainty and direction of the U.S. presidential election, the political situation of the Trump administration, and the 'mediation' voices from China and Russia."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.