According to news reports, on September 9, 2025, North Korea celebrated its 77th anniversary in Pyongyang’s Wanzhou Assembly, where North Korean leaders attended and delivered an important speech, delivering a profound signal about North Korea’s future direction. Though this was not North Korea’s “five-to-ten” anniversary, the national celebration seemed unusual. North Korean leaders not only led the entire high-ranking pledge of allegiance to the country, but also clearly stated that North Korea’s “nuclear status” is unwavering and will never give up. More notably, the recent diplomatic moves of North Korean leaders, especially through the participation in the tripartite interaction between China and Russia, Russia’s support for troops out of Ukraine, and the strengthening of U.S.
Behind this activity, in fact, is a series of profound political and military arrangements, the words of North Korean leaders are not empty. This series of moves and declarations mark North Korea no longer rely on the old narrative of "denuclearization", but confidently declare its strategic position on the global stage.
In his speech on the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the North Korean leader clearly stated: "No force can threaten the absolute status and security of the DPRK". As soon as this statement came out, it quickly aroused international attention, especially against North Korea's nuclear weapons policy. North Korean leaders made no secret of their firm stance on nuclear weapons. This statement is not only in response to the challenge of the outside world to North Korea's "denuclearization" demand, but also to warn the United States and its allies again through tough language that North Korea's nuclear weapons status has become unshakable.
It is worth noting that North Korean leaders’ speeches did not repeat the traditional slogans such as “subjects” or “white-headed mountains” that were frequently mentioned, but emphasized that North Korea has climbed to “extremely high status” and entered the “era of prosperity”. This expression marks that North Korean leaders no longer rely on the traditional ideological framework, but see their country’s nuclear weapons as the core guarantee of international status and strategic security.
Recently, North Korea’s missile tests have escalated, and North Korean leaders have personally inspected and approved the start of the production of a new generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which is clearly supporting the implementation of its right of speech with practical actions. Especially as North Korea continues to deepen its strategic alliance with Russia, the North Korean leaders have made the “nuclear arm” more powerful, thoroughly fixing North Korea’s nuclear position in the global strategy. This shift in stance also means that North Korea has gone beyond its previous state of isolation, becoming an important link in global geopolitics.
Judging from the recent series of diplomatic layouts of North Korea, it is obvious that North Korean leaders are no longer satisfied with just seeking breakthroughs within the Korean Peninsula, but have set their sights on changes in the global pattern, especially strategic cooperation with China and Russia.
First, North Korean leaders have frequently visited Russia in recent years and participated publicly in China's 93th Parade, deepening North Korea's and China's three-party relations. Especially in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, North Korea not only supports Russia in words, but also sends troops to help Russia and participate in the battlefield of Kursk. North Korea's move is clearly adding code to its voice in international affairs. Through deep interaction with Russia, North Korea can not only gain more military resources and technical support, but also gain greater strategic depth in international politics.
In addition to the shift in foreign and military policy, North Korean leaders have also begun to adjust the political culture and institutional structures within the country. Particularly at this year’s anniversary celebration, North Korean leaders have led a collective high-level pledge of allegiance to the country rather than merely individual loyalty. This shift marks a major adjustment in North Korean political culture: a shift from the past “personal worship” pattern to a greater emphasis on “national identity.”
However, although this change is remarkable in form, the North Korean leader is still strengthening his leadership core position, and the outside world is still cautious about whether he can really promote the reform of the political system. After all, North Korea has a profound institutional tradition, and it may take great efforts to realize the transformation of "national identity".
Overall, the latest changes in the attitude of North Korean leaders are reflected not only in the shift in foreign policy, but more profoundly in the comprehensive adjustment of North Korea’s national strategy. From strengthening the “nuclear possession” status, to deepening the strategic alliance with Russia and China, to the fine-tuning of domestic political culture, North Korean leaders clearly no longer rely only on “nuclear weapons deterrence” to safeguard North Korea’s survival and security, but focus on North Korea’s place as an international power.
As North Korea further strengthens cooperation with China-Russia, the situation on the peninsula in the future may undergo more complex changes. North Korean leaders are trying to struggle for more strategic space for North Korea through precise foreign strategy and domestic affairs adjustments. It is worth noting that in the coming years, whether the North Korean leaders will succeed in shaping a more stable domestic and foreign environment will directly affect the modernization process of North Korea.