Pyongyang (HRNW) – Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has stated that North Korea’s nuclear program and status as a nuclear-armed state are not open to negotiation under any circumstances.
According to North Korean state media, Kim Yo-jong said in a statement that the country’s nuclear capabilities are “completely non-negotiable” and that Pyongyang will not compromise on measures it considers essential to its national security.
Her remarks came as Chinese President Xi Jinping began a two-day state visit to North Korea, marking his first trip to the country in seven years.
In her statement, Kim Yo-jong criticized the United States, asserting that expectations for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program are unrealistic. She also rejected claims that the denuclearization of North Korea had been agreed upon as a shared objective during recent discussions involving China and the United States, describing such reports as inaccurate.
North Korea formally incorporated its nuclear status into its constitution in 2023 and has since repeatedly described itself as an irreversible nuclear state.
Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly visited a major weapons manufacturing facility and instructed officials to increase missile production. State media reported that he emphasized the need to further strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.
Analysts say the latest comments from Kim Yo-jong signal that North Korea remains unwilling to negotiate away its nuclear arsenal and intends to continue developing its defense and strategic deterrence capabilities despite international pressure.
North Korea has continued to expand its nuclear and ballistic missile programs despite United Nations sanctions, prompting ongoing concern from the United States and its allies.
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