The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has declared that the country’s status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible and will not be changed under any circumstances.
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong said North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is not open for negotiation and rejected international efforts aimed at denuclearization. She described the country's nuclear status as a “line of no retreat” and said it remains a reality whether other countries accept it or not.
Her remarks came ahead of a planned visit by Xi Jinping to Pyongyang and appeared to signal that North Korea’s nuclear program is not a subject for discussion between the Chinese and North Korean leaders.
Kim Yo-jong also rejected recent comments from the United States regarding denuclearization, accusing Washington of spreading false information and urging it to abandon hopes of convincing North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.
She said Pyongyang had been fully informed about discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump and claimed North Korea possessed accurate information regarding those talks.
The statement further defended North Korea’s continued military buildup, citing what it described as ongoing threats from hostile countries. Kim pointed to recent US approval of precision-guided bomb sales to South Korea as an example of those threats.
She said North Korea would continue strengthening its self-defense capabilities to protect national security and emphasized that the country would never compromise on its sovereignty or security. According to Kim, nuclear weapons remain the strongest guarantee of North Korea’s defense and will continue to play a central role in its national strategy.
