North Korean leader Kim vows to solidify the country's nuclear status and criticizes South Korea for being the 'most hostile' country, as analysts see his comments as a reflection of his diminishing view of Seoul's role in US-North Korea diplomacy.

Analysts say Mr. Kim’s vilification of South Korea reflects his view that Seoul, which helped arrange his first meetings with Trump in 2018 and 2019, is no longer a useful intermediary with Washington but an obstacle to his push for a more assertive regional role