North Korea Nuclear Program 'Absolutely Non-negotiable,' Says Leader's Sister

North Korea's nuclear weapons program is "absolutely non-negotiable," declared Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of leader Kim Jong Un, in a strong statement released through state media. Her assertion comes just before Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Pyongyang, underscoring the nation's firm stance on its nuclear capabilities. North Korea has long maintained its right to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, despite international sanctions. The country officially enshrined its nuclear status in its constitution in 2023, signaling a permanent commitment.

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Our status as a nuclear power is absolutely non-negotiable.

Kim Yo Jong, a key figure in North Korea's foreign policy and communications, directly challenged recent U.S. assertions. She dismissed claims that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had reaffirmed a shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea during their recent summit. She characterized these U.S. statements as "false information" and an "anachronistic dream," asserting that Washington's attempts to deny or question North Korea's nuclear status hold "no legal force."

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Some officials in the United States still have yet to awaken from their escapist and anachronistic dream. This is nothing more than Washington's habitual dissemination of false information.

The timing of Kim Yo Jong's statement, coinciding with Xi's first visit to Pyongyang in seven years, highlights the strategic importance of the Sino-North Korean relationship. Beijing remains a crucial political and economic lifeline for the isolated nation. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a major munitions factory, urging it to increase production capacity to ensure a sufficient supply of missiles. This directive, reported by the official KCNA news agency, indicates a continued focus on military buildup.

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The policy of continuously strengthening the country's self-defensive nuclear deterrent, as set out by the nation's leader, is an irreversible course that must be implemented without fail.