North Korea no longer aiming for reunification with South, says Kim

North Korea's largely isolated leadership dampened hopes of a rapprochement with the South in 2024, with ruler Kim Jong Un saying he is no longer striving for reunification, in comments at the close of a party meeting on Sunday.

Kim said Pyongyang is no longer aiming for reunification, long a goal shared by both Koreas, which have been in a state of war under international law since the end of the conflict between 1950 and 1953.

"We should not make the mistake again of seeing them as a counterpart for reconciliation and unification, as South Korea has declared us its main enemy," Kim was quoted as saying by state media.

Earlier, North Korea said it planned to launch three more spy satellites into space in 2024.

Kim outlined his country's security goals for 2024 during the usual end-of-year meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, which ended on Saturday.

"Relations between South and North Korea are no longer those between people of the same nation," said Kim, who argued the relationship between the Koreas has developed into one between states who are at war.

The current situation requires his government to redefine its stance on unification policy, he said.

North Korea is one of the most isolated countries globally. Due to its nuclear weapons programme, it has been slapped with tough international sanctions. Pyongyang considers the US and South Korea to be its biggest enemies.

"This is the first time that North Korea's leadership has publicly declared that it is impossible to achieve unification," said Park Young Ho, a North Korea specialist and former researcher at the South Korean Institute for National Unification.

Pyongyang has repeatedly blamed the Seoul government for the deterioration in relations in the past.

North Korea watchers also said Kim's statements contained a veiled threat towards Seoul.

"Because of the enemies' reckless measures to invade our country, it is a fait accompli that war may break out on the Korean peninsula at any time," Kim was quoted as saying. The military must prepare to "pacify the entire territory of South Korea," using nuclear weapons if necessary in the event of an attack, he added.

Washington denies Pyongyang's accusation that it is preparing an attack together with its allies.

South Koreans fear a turbulent year ahead. South Korea's secret service recently warned the North might unleash fresh provocations ahead of South Korea's parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential election in November.

Alongside expanding its nuclear arsenal and the construction of military drones, North Korea also reportedly named the launch of three more reconnaissance satellites as one of its most important tasks for 2024.

North Korea must stick to its offensive hard line, Kim said.

Pyongyang wants to expand its military surveillance capabilities to monitor, state media said earlier on Sunday.

The launch of the first North Korean spy satellite in November was celebrated as a success in the state media. At the party meeting, it was decided to launch three more satellites into space in 2024.

The US and its allies South Korea, Japan and Australia imposed new sanctions on North Korea because of the satellite launch. They accused Pyongyang of using technologies related to its intercontinental ballistic missile programme.