North Korea: Denuclearization Must Address US, NATO, Japan, South Korea Nuclear Ambitions
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- North Korea stated denuclearization should prioritize confronting the nuclear ambitions of the US, NATO, Japan, and South Korea.
- Pyongyang asserted that denuclearization is a concluded issue for the country.
- This statement responds to a joint declaration by South Korea, the US, and Japan reaffirming the principle of Korean Peninsula denuclearization.
North Korea declared that the concept of denuclearization must first and foremost address the escalating nuclear confrontation ambitions of the United States, NATO, Japan, and South Korea. Pyongyang asserted that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a matter that has been definitively concluded, both in theory and practice.
The concept of denuclearization should be given priority in confronting the nuclear confrontation ambitions of the US, Japan, and NATO member states, which are entering an extremely dangerous phase with the active support and endorsement of the US.
A spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry, speaking through the Korean Central News Agency, stated that the principle of "denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" is an irreversible and final issue. The statement emphasized that any pursuit of denuclearization by the US, Japan, and South Korea, which it deems unrealistic and out of sync with the times, holds no sway over North Korea's status.
Denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is an issue that has been irrevocably and finally concluded, both theoretically and practically.
This strong assertion comes in direct response to a joint statement made by the foreign ministers of South Korea, the US, and Japan. During their meeting, the three nations reaffirmed their commitment to the principle of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and pledged to maintain cooperation on North Korea policy, including addressing Pyongyang's illicit cyber activities. The North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson specifically criticized the "nuclear armament ambitions" of Japan and South Korea, which are allegedly receiving active support from the US, and the "nuclear confrontation ambitions" of NATO member states that share nuclear capabilities with the US.
The denuclearization claims by the US, Japan, and South Korea, which have completely lost their timeliness and realistic possibility, can have no impact whatsoever on our country's status.
Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.