Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, delivered a landmark policy address to the First Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly on March 23, outlining a comprehensive vision for the DPRK’s political, economic, and military trajectory. In a speech titled “On the Tasks Facing the Government of the Republic at the Present Stage of Socialist Construction,” Kim underscored nuclear development as central to national security and as the foundation for broader social and economic progress.
Addressing the newly elected deputies and observers, Kim opened by reaffirming his commitment to the Constitution and to advancing the prosperity and well-being of the North Korean people. He credited the achievements of the past term to a strategy of self-reliance and disciplined socialist construction, asserting that decades of arduous effort had yielded unprecedented results, including technological renovation, infrastructural development, and the expansion of people-oriented policies. According to Kim, the success of these programs demonstrated the value of independence and the pitfalls of relying on external assistance.
Central to Kim’s address was the DPRK’s nuclear policy, which he portrayed as a cornerstone of state security and a non-negotiable element of national sovereignty. Highlighting the legal codification of nuclear possession during the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim described the country’s nuclear capabilities as an “absolute physical deterrent” and a prerequisite for safeguarding peace. He presented the nuclear shield not as a mere military instrument, but as a driver of domestic development, linking strategic defense to economic growth, cultural advancement, and the overall improvement of living standards.
Kim described the regional and global context as fraught with threats from imperialist powers, particularly the United States and its allies, who he claimed continue to deploy nuclear strategic assets near the Korean Peninsula. He warned that the DPRK is prepared to respond decisively to any challenge, framing nuclear deterrence as the “surest and most permanent” guarantee for sovereignty, stability, and sustainable prosperity. In Kim’s vision, the country’s ability to project strength underpins both regional stability and the credibility of its domestic governance.
The speech also set out ambitious domestic development priorities. Kim called for the government to vigorously pursue the “three revolutions”—ideological, technological, and cultural—as essential instruments of socialist construction. Ideological work, he emphasized, must equip citizens with independent consciousness and moral discipline, reinforcing the unity and revolutionary spirit of the population. Technological and scientific advancement, particularly in key industries such as metallurgy, chemical production, electric power, and coal mining, was positioned as critical for sustained economic growth and modernization. Kim stressed the importance of increasing production efficiency, upgrading equipment, and integrating advanced science and technology into all sectors of the economy.
Agriculture, food security, and light industry were highlighted as priorities directly linked to improving living standards. Kim outlined plans to expand grain production, enhance wheat farming, develop modern greenhouses, and advance aquaculture. He emphasized a “seed revolution” and scientific farming methods, while also promising improvements in housing, urban infrastructure, and regional development, including the modernization of coal mining villages and the transformation of scenic areas into tourist destinations. Through these measures, the DPRK aims to provide tangible benefits to citizens while consolidating the state’s economic and social base.
Education, public health, and culture were portrayed as equally integral to the country’s development. Kim reiterated the importance of universal 12-year compulsory education, the training of future talent, and the modernization of hospitals and healthcare systems. Investment in science and technology, including AI and space research, was positioned as a long-term strategic priority, ensuring that North Korea’s industrial, educational, and health infrastructures evolve in step with global standards. Cultural development, moral discipline, and socialist civility were underscored as essential for strengthening the social fabric and fostering a collective sense of responsibility among citizens.
Kim also addressed governance and legal reform. He called for stricter discipline in government organs, emphasizing efficiency, anti-bureaucratic practices, and accountability among public servants. Strengthening neighborhood units and improving local administration were described as crucial for political stability, citizen well-being, and the effective implementation of state policies. The establishment of a professional police system was flagged as an important step in consolidating internal security and enhancing the legal apparatus.
Foreign policy was framed around an independent and strategically cautious posture. Kim asserted the DPRK’s intent to safeguard sovereignty and national interests, adapt diplomatic practices to changing global dynamics, and maintain traditional alliances while prioritizing long-term strategic benefits. The speech reinforced the notion that the country will continue to act decisively to counter perceived threats, particularly from the Republic of Korea and other states deemed hostile.
Concluding, Kim portrayed the current period as a “new turning phase” for socialist construction, in which the DPRK is advancing toward prosperity with “definite prospects, sufficient power of execution and firm confidence.” He urged deputies to exercise creativity, diligence, and loyalty to the Party in executing state policies, emphasizing that the success of the next five years depends on disciplined governance, technological innovation, and the continued consolidation of nuclear and defensive capabilities.
Kim’s address marks a clear prioritization of nuclear deterrence as both a security measure and a catalyst for domestic development, while outlining an integrated strategy that links military strength, economic modernization, social welfare, education, and ideological discipline. The speech positions the DPRK as resolutely self-reliant, determined to pursue its development goals independently, and committed to maintaining a strategic posture capable of shaping both domestic and regional outcomes.
In a sweeping presentation that spanned security, economy, society, and culture, Kim Jong Un reaffirmed the DPRK’s stance as a nuclear-armed, self-reliant state determined to secure its sovereignty, improve citizens’ living standards, and assert its position on the global stage, signaling a new phase in Pyongyang’s ambitious pursuit of socialist construction.
