Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has rejected renewed international calls for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programme, saying the country’s status as a nuclear-armed state is permanent.
In a statement carried by North Korean state media on Thursday, Kim described North Korea’s nuclear status as “absolute” and said it could not be reversed.
She also dismissed expectations that international efforts to achieve North Korea’s denuclearisation could change Pyongyang’s position, using sharply worded language to criticise those who believe the country could give up its nuclear arsenal.
Her comments came as the International Atomic Energy Agency held its 70th General Conference in Vienna, where member states raised concerns about North Korea’s expanding nuclear capabilities.
The IAEA has reported developments involving North Korea’s uranium enrichment activities and the expansion of key nuclear facilities. The agency continues to call for Pyongyang to comply with international non-proliferation obligations and allow appropriate verification.
North Korea has repeatedly rejected such demands, arguing that its nuclear weapons are necessary for national security and deterrence against perceived threats from the United States and its allies.
Kim said the country’s nuclear arsenal makes an important contribution to deterring what Pyongyang describes as hostile actions by foreign powers. She insisted that North Korea’s nuclear status had been established both physically and legally.
Her statement comes as US President Donald Trump has again expressed interest in resuming direct dialogue with Kim Jong Un. Trump has said he hopes to meet the North Korean leader later this year.
The two leaders met three times during Trump’s first term, but negotiations stalled after their 2019 summit in Hanoi failed to produce an agreement over sanctions relief and steps toward denuclearisation.
North Korea has continued developing its nuclear and missile capabilities since that summit.
South Korean officials said they were closely monitoring Kim Yo Jong’s latest statement, particularly because of its timing alongside renewed discussion of possible US-North Korea talks.
The comments underline the gap between Pyongyang’s stated nuclear policy and international efforts to persuade it to abandon its weapons programme.
For now, North Korea continues to present its nuclear arsenal as a permanent part of its national security strategy, while the United States, South Korea and other countries continue to call for denuclearisation and renewed diplomatic engagement.
Leave a Reply