Kim Yo Jong dismissed calls for denuclearization as “foolish,” coming as Washington signals potential openness to renewed diplomatic engagement.
North Korea’s influential political figure Kim Yo Jong has stated that the country’s nuclear status is “absolute and final,” dismissing any expectations of disarmament as foolish.
According to Agence France-Presse, Pyongyang has legally enshrined its status as a nuclear-armed state, with leadership maintaining that its atomic arsenal is permanent and non-negotiable.
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, delivered the remarks via the state-run Korean Central News Agency. She asserted that the country’s nuclear capabilities serve as a vital deterrent against external pressure.
“The DPRK’s status as a nuclear state is absolute and final, and cannot be changed by anything,” she said, describing the country’s arsenal as a crucial shield.
The statement coincided with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s general conference in Vienna, where Pyongyang dismissed ongoing international efforts toward denuclearization. Kim added that any belief in the reversibility of North Korea’s nuclear program is unrealistic.
Seoul’s Unification Ministry said authorities are closely monitoring the remarks, noting the timing aligns with recent signals from Washington regarding potential diplomatic engagement.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to reopen communication with Kim Jong Un, suggesting willingness for renewed contact. During his first term, Trump held three summits with the North Korean leader, though diplomacy stalled after the 2019 Hanoi summit ended without an agreement on sanctions relief and disarmament steps.
Since the breakdown of those talks, Pyongyang has continued to expand its nuclear stockpile. While independent estimates and official assessments vary, international monitors note that North Korea’s military capabilities have steadily advanced in recent years.
