Kim's sister: North Korea's nuclear status is non-negotiable

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has firmly rejected any possibility of denuclearization, asserting that her country's status as a nuclear power is non-negotiable. Speaking through the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the 38-year-old stated that North Korea's position as a nuclear-armed state is an "irreversible reality, regardless of whether others recognize it or not."

Kim further urged "hostile forces" to abandon their "daydreams of denuclearization," delivering a clear rebuff to ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. This firm stance contrasts with recent statements from the U.S. State Department, which indicated an openness to dialogue with North Korea "without preconditions" while maintaining the goal of complete denuclearization.

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irreversible reality - regardless of whether others recognize it or not

The remarks from Kim Yo Jong precede a significant diplomatic event: the upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pyongyang. This visit, scheduled for Monday, marks Xi's first trip to North Korea since 2019. China, North Korea's sole formal ally, shares a mutual defense treaty and fought alongside the North during the Korean War (1950-53).

North Korea has been subjected to extensive United Nations sanctions for approximately two decades due to its nuclear and missile programs. Recently, China and Russia have blocked further punitive measures against Pyongyang in the UN Security Council. They also prevented the renewal of a UN expert panel tasked with monitoring the implementation of these sanctions.

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daydreams of a denuclearization