North Korea pledged to "completely destroy its enemies" in the event of war when leader Kim Jong Un gives the order, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Senior military officials made these comments "from a position of increasing hatred" towards the United States and South Korea during a meeting attended by Kim on Saturday to celebrate the 71st anniversary of the Korean War.
There are no diplomatic relations between North Korea and the United States, and talks aimed at reducing tensions and denuclearizing North Korea have been stalled since 2019. North Korean state media recently stated that it does not expect this to change regardless of who is elected to the White House.
North Korean military officials have accused the United States and South Korea of "being intent on provoking a nuclear war" but have committed to enhancing combat readiness to launch a "crushing attack on the enemy at any time and without delay, destroying it completely once Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un gives the order."
North Korea, China, and the United States signed an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, to end the three-year war. American generals signed the agreement, representing the United Nations forces that supported South Korea. North Korea refers to July 27 as "Victory Day," despite the armistice drawing borders that almost equally divided the Korean Peninsula and restored balance after almost equal strength during the war. South Korea does not commemorate this day with any major events. Hostilities ceased with an armistice and not a peace treaty, meaning that both sides remain technically at war.
