North Korea Nuclear Stance
North Korea's Kim Yo-jong Declares Nuclear Status Irreversible, Rejects Denuclearization Talks Ahead of Xi's Visit
North Korea’s Kim Yo-jong reiterated that the DPRK’s status as a nuclear-armed state is “absolutely irreversible” and a “line of no retreat,” saying Pyongyang will not tolerate threats or compromise on sovereignty and security. Her comments, released by KCNA ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day visit to Pyongyang, were framed as rejecting any effort to raise denuclearization during Xi’s talks with Kim Jong-un. Kim Yo-jong dismissed US claims that Washington and Xi shared a denuclearization goal after their summit with President Donald Trump, calling the messaging false and denouncing US calls for denuclearisation as unrealistic. She also pointed to US weapons activity and military coordination with allies, arguing that North Korea must keep building its nuclear and deterrent capabilities without discussion. The statements underscore the likelihood that Xi’s visit will focus on broader diplomatic and security concerns rather than negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
Key Points
North Korea has already constitutionally entrenched its nuclear status: it “enshrined its nuclear status in its constitution in 2023,” and has long maintained a right to its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes despite UN Security Council sanctions.
Kim Yo-jong cited South Korea-linked U.S. weapons sales as justification for expanding Pyongyang’s arsenal, calling them the “ceaseless arms buildup of the hostile countries.”
She also targeted Washington’s approval of high-precision arms to Seoul, saying the U.S. okayed “exports of high-precision glide bombs to the Republic of Korea,” and that North Korea would continue enhancing its own defenses, arguing it would “not allow a violation of parity.”
Separately, KCNA reported Kim Jong-un inspected a major munitions factory and ordered increased production capacity “in order to supply enough quantity of missiles,” reinforcing that North Korea is prioritizing expanded missile output.
The timing and significance of Xi Jinping’s trip were underlined: it is scheduled for June 8–9 and marks Xi’s “first trip to North Korea in seven years,” coming at Kim Jong-un’s invitation.
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