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North Korea's Kim Yo Jong Rejects G7 Denuclearization Call, Cites 'Permanent Core Interest'
🇰🇷 South Korea /Energy & Infrastructure

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong Rejects G7 Denuclearization Call, Cites 'Permanent Core Interest'

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • North Korea's Kim Yo Jong rejected the G7's call for complete denuclearization, calling it a violation of sovereignty.
  • She stated that North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons is a permanent and unchangeable core interest for national defense.
  • The G7 joint statement urged North Korea's complete denuclearization, while South Korea's Defense Ministry and Unification Ministry showed differing views on whether to label North Korea as an 'enemy'.

Kim Yo Jong, a high-ranking official in North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, has strongly rebuked the Group of Seven (G7) nations for demanding the country's complete denuclearization. She declared that nuclear armament is an "inalienable core interest" and that "denuclearization" is a line North Korea will never cross.

Nuclear possession is our core interest that must be permanently upheld, and 'denuclearization' is an irreversible line that cannot be crossed.

— Kim Yo JongStating North Korea's stance on nuclear weapons in response to the G7's call for denuclearization.

In a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency, Kim expressed "strong dissatisfaction and regret" over what she termed the G7's "overstepping" actions, which she stated directly infringe upon North Korea's constitution. She asserted that the G7, which she accused of being the "main culprit" in destroying global peace and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, has no right to discuss or challenge North Korea's sovereign choices.

We express strong dissatisfaction and regret over the G7's overstepping actions, which are a direct violation of our state constitution, and we sternly condemn and reject them in the clearest terms.

— Kim Yo JongCondemning the G7's joint statement on North Korea's denuclearization.

North Korea enshrined its status as a nuclear-weapon state in its constitution in 2012 and has consistently framed external demands for denuclearization as an infringement on its sovereignty. Kim emphasized that nuclear weapons are a "powerful means of defending sovereignty" granted by law and a "cornerstone of peace." She insisted that North Korea's self-defense nuclear deterrent will remain "permanent and unchangeable."

The G7, the main culprit in destroying world peace, security, and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, has neither the right to discuss the sovereign choices of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea nor the right to obstruct them.

— Kim Yo JongAsserting North Korea's sovereign right regarding its nuclear program.

This strong reaction comes after G7 leaders, including then-U.S. President Donald Trump, issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to achieving North Korea's complete denuclearization in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. Meanwhile, South Korea's Defense Ministry and Unification Ministry revealed conflicting stances on whether to officially designate North Korea as an 'enemy' in the upcoming defense white paper, highlighting internal divisions on inter-Korean policy.

Our nuclear weapons, as a self-defensive and responsive means, will have permanent and unchangeable identity and existence.

— Kim Yo JongEmphasizing the permanent nature of North Korea's nuclear deterrent.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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