The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea&#39;s Workers&#39; Party, reported on Thursday that the 9th Party Congress concluded on Wednesday. The congress ran for a week starting on February 19, and Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers&#39; Party, delivered messages directed at the U.S. and South Korea through his work summary report on February 20 and 21 / Rodong Sinmun

Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of North Korea's Workers' Party, has signaled openness to potential dialogue with the U.S., contingent on recognizing North Korea's status as a nuclear power. Meanwhile, the Blue House and the government are quietly working behind the scenes to foster an atmosphere conducive to talks.

While inter-Korean dialogue remains uncertain, speculation persists about a possible meeting between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump during Trump's April visit to China. This has prompted continued conciliatory gestures toward North Korea.

According to the Workers' Party's official newspaper<em> Rodong Sinmun</em> on Thursday, Kim stated during a summary report of the 9th Party Congress that South Korea would be permanently excluded from the category of compatriots. He added that South Korea's only escape from its geographical ties with North Korea is to completely abandon all relations and avoid provocation.

Kim also dismissed the current South Korean government's outwardly conciliatory stance as a clumsy deception and poor performance, clearly rejecting the Lee Jae Myung administration's North Korea engagement policy.

However, Kim noted that if the U.S. respects our country's current status as stipulated in the Constitution and withdraws its hostile policy, it has no reason not to maintain good relations with the U.S. He emphasized that the future of U.S.-North Korea relations depends entirely on the U.S. stance.

While rejecting South Korea, Kim has left the door open for conditional dialogue with the U.S.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks at a senior aides meeting held at the Yeomin Pavilion of the Blue House on Thursday &#40;Blue House Press Corps&#41; 2026.2.26 / News1

President Lee stated that it must resolve confrontations and normalize inter-Korean relations, supporting efforts to create a favorable atmosphere for U.S.-North Korea dialogue. Despite Kim's hostile stance, the Blue House has conveyed a message of conciliation, pledging continued efforts toward peaceful coexistence and trust restoration.

On this day, President Lee chaired a meeting with senior aides at the Blue House, declaring that the values we should pursue are peace and stability. It must break from the past that raced toward confrontation and war, and insisted that inter-Korean relations must be normalized.

He further emphasized that long-standing hostility and confrontation cannot be eliminated with a single groundbreaking measure. Lee urged continuous communication, dialogue, and cooperation to gradually build trust and create mutual understanding, ultimately leading to structural peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The Blue House also announced through a media release that its government will continue to strive for a future where the two Koreas coexist peacefully and prosper together, stressing that both sides must refrain from hostile rhetoric and build a foundation of mutual respect and trust.

The Blue House views U.S.-North Korea dialogue as a prerequisite for improving inter-Korean relations and has begun working as a facilitator to create a dialogue-friendly atmosphere. The government plans to conduct the upcoming joint U.S.-South Korea exercise Freedom Shield (FS) from March 9 to 19, while negotiating to scale back some outdoor maneuvers.

A senior Blue House official stated that it will conduct the joint exercise, and the main components remain unchanged, adding that they're discussing some aspects with the U.S.

During a luncheon meeting with the Democratic Party's senior advisory group on Wednesday, President Lee reiterated that to establish a peace regime, it must proactively take various steps, reaffirming his commitment to efforts as a facilitator.

Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of North Korea's Workers' Party, has signaled openness …

North Korea's Kim Jong Un Opens Door to U.S. Talks: What Does This Mean for 2026?