Kim Jong Un told North Korea's government to 'get fully prepared for confrontation' with the US

• Kim Jong Un said North Korea needed to get ready for the possibility of "confrontation" with the US.
• He told his government to prepare for dialogue and confrontation, but "especially" confrontation.
• G7 leaders recently demanded North Korea abandon its nuclear program.

North Korea's leader told his government to prepare for confrontation with the United States.

Kim Jong Un addressed his government Thursday, and the Korean Central News Agency reported he "stressed the need to get prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, especially to get fully prepared for confrontation," according to the Associated Press.

He said this was needed "in order to protect the dignity of our state and its interests for independent development and to reliably guarantee the peaceful environment and the security of our state."

G7 leaders demanded the "verifiable and irreversible" disbandment of North Korea's nuclear program when they met in the UK earlier this month.

A confidential UN report seen by Reuters in February said North Korea maintained and developed its nuclear and ballistic-missile programs through 2020, even in the face of international sanctions.

Reports in May said US President Joe Biden's administration had been trying to contact North Korea "to reduce the risks of escalation" but didn't get a response.