BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
North Korea has firmly rejected a renewed call by the Group of Seven (G7) nations to abandon its nuclear weapons program, with Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, declaring that the country’s nuclear status is permanent and non-negotiable.
In a statement carried Thursday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yo Jong condemned the G7’s demand for North Korea’s complete denuclearization, describing it as an unacceptable violation of the country’s sovereignty and constitutional principles.
Kim asserted that North Korea’s policy of maintaining nuclear weapons has already been finalized and cannot be reversed under any circumstances. She said the country’s nuclear arsenal represents a core national interest and serves as an essential pillar of its security, warning that any attempt to force Pyongyang to abandon its weapons would ultimately fail.
She described denuclearization as an issue that North Korea will never reconsider, insisting that the country has crossed a point of no return in its nuclear development. According to Kim, calls for Pyongyang to dismantle its arsenal ignore the current security environment and fail to recognize what she described as the country’s legitimate right to self-defense.
Kim warned that any nation seeking to undermine the interests of a nuclear-armed North Korea would be making what she called “the worst option of inviting disaster,” signaling that Pyongyang intends to continue strengthening its strategic deterrent despite growing international pressure.
She argued that North Korea developed nuclear weapons solely as a defensive measure in response to what it considers persistent military threats and nuclear intimidation from hostile countries. According to her statement, the country’s nuclear capabilities have become the cornerstone of national security and are intended to preserve peace by deterring potential military action against the regime.
Kim also dismissed international appeals for denuclearization as outdated and unrealistic, saying such demands have no influence on North Korea’s long-term strategic decisions regardless of how frequently they are repeated by foreign governments.
Her remarks came a day after leaders of the G7 nations issued a joint statement following their summit expressing deep concern over North Korea’s expanding nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
The G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. They urged Pyongyang to comply with its international obligations and return to diplomacy aimed at reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
In addition to expressing concern over North Korea’s weapons programs, the G7 leaders renewed calls for the country to resolve the long-standing issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents decades ago. Japan has consistently made the return of the abductees and a full accounting of those still missing one of its highest foreign policy priorities.
The G7 statement also highlighted growing international concern over North Korea’s alleged involvement in large-scale cybercrime and cryptocurrency theft. Western governments have accused North Korean-linked hacking groups of stealing billions of dollars in digital assets, with investigators saying the proceeds have been used to help finance the country’s nuclear weapons and missile development despite extensive international sanctions.
North Korea has repeatedly denied accusations that it engages in cyber theft or uses illicit activities to support its military programs. However, the country has continued to accelerate missile testing and weapons development in recent years, arguing that its expanding arsenal is necessary to counter military cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan.
Relations between Pyongyang and the West remain deeply strained, with diplomatic negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program stalled for years. While the international community continues to press for denuclearization through sanctions and diplomatic pressure, North Korean leaders have increasingly emphasized that nuclear weapons are now a permanent feature of the country’s national defense strategy.
Kim Yo Jong’s latest statement reinforces Pyongyang’s position that future negotiations are unlikely to involve discussions about abandoning its nuclear arsenal, setting the stage for continued tensions between North Korea and the international community as concerns over regional security continue to grow.
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