North Korea: The country's nuclear program is absolutely non-negotiable, says Kim Jong Un's sister

North Korea's nuclear program is "absolutely non-negotiable," declared Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of leader Kim Jong Un. In an opinion piece published in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, she asserted that the country's status as a nuclear power is final and warned that Pyongyang "will not tolerate any threat."

Kim Yo Jong, who officially heads the General Affairs Department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, is considered a close confidante and key advisor to her brother, playing a significant role in the nation's communication and foreign policy. North Korea enshrined its irreversible status as a nuclear power in its constitution in 2023, a principle first proclaimed by Kim Jong Un a year earlier.

The statement comes amid ongoing international sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. South Korea, the United States, and other nations consider denuclearization a prerequisite for lifting these sanctions. However, Pyongyang views its nuclear arsenal, estimated to comprise several dozen warheads, as a crucial security guarantee against any threat or attempt to overthrow its regime.

Kim's article was published just before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang, a nation considered a close ally and primary economic supporter. While China has historically supported denuclearization and participated in UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea, its stance has reportedly shifted in recent years, with analysts suggesting Beijing now prioritizes regional stability.

The article also served as a direct response to a May 17 White House announcement stating that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping "reiterated their common goal of denuclearizing North Korea" during Trump's visit to Beijing. Kim dismissed these remarks as "old tactics for spreading misinformation" and "unrealistic and anachronistic dreams."