North Korea Declares Denuclearisation Issue Closed as It Condemns U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Talks

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA

North Korea has declared that the issue of denuclearisation is permanently settled and cannot be revisited, while strongly criticizing recent discussions between the United States and South Korea aimed at strengthening nuclear deterrence against Pyongyang’s expanding weapons program.

In a statement released through the country’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sunday, a spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry dismissed ongoing calls for denuclearisation and condemned military cooperation between Washington and Seoul. The spokesperson argued that efforts by the United States and South Korea to increase pressure on Pyongyang would have no impact on what the country describes as its established status as a nuclear weapons state.

According to the statement, North Korea views any discussion of denuclearisation as outdated and irrelevant, insisting that its nuclear capabilities are now a permanent component of its national defense strategy. The spokesperson maintained that the country’s position has become irreversible and that external pressure, diplomatic demands, or military measures would not alter that reality.

The remarks came shortly after senior officials from the United States and South Korea met in Seoul under the framework of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a bilateral mechanism created to enhance coordination on nuclear deterrence and strategic planning. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to strengthen their joint readiness and improve responses to the growing threat posed by North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile programs.

The Nuclear Consultative Group was established as part of broader efforts by Washington and Seoul to reassure South Korea of the United States’ extended deterrence commitment. The alliance has increasingly focused on improving military coordination as North Korea continues to expand its weapons capabilities, conduct missile tests, and develop technologies that could potentially increase the range and effectiveness of its nuclear arsenal.

North Korea has repeatedly condemned the NCG and other joint military initiatives, arguing that such measures heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula and increase the risk of conflict. Pyongyang has frequently characterized U.S.-South Korean military cooperation as hostile and has accused both countries of pursuing policies aimed at undermining its security.

The latest statement reflects North Korea’s long-standing position that its nuclear weapons program serves as an essential safeguard against what it sees as external threats. In recent years, leader Kim Jong Un has accelerated efforts to modernize the country’s military capabilities, overseeing the development of new ballistic missiles, submarine-launched weapons, and other strategic systems.

Relations between North Korea and the United States have remained largely frozen since diplomatic negotiations aimed at dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear program collapsed several years ago. Since then, North Korea has significantly expanded its weapons development activities while rejecting calls from Washington, Seoul, and the international community to return to denuclearisation talks.

The latest exchange of rhetoric highlights the widening gap between North Korea’s insistence on recognition as a permanent nuclear power and the continued commitment of the United States and South Korea to prevent further nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula. With both sides maintaining firmly opposing positions, prospects for renewed negotiations appear increasingly uncertain, raising concerns about continued tensions in one of the world’s most heavily militarized regions.