North Korea declares nuclear weapons status cannot be reversed

North Korea has once again ruled out any possibility of giving up its nuclear weapons programme, declaring that its position as a nuclear armed state is permanent and cannot be changed.

North Korea has once again ruled out any possibility of giving up its nuclear weapons programme, declaring that its position as a nuclear armed state is permanent and cannot be changed. The statement came in response to renewed calls from the United States, South Korea, and Japan for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

According to remarks carried by North Korea’s state news agency, officials in Pyongyang dismissed recent discussions among the three allies and insisted that the country’s nuclear status is now a settled issue. North Korean authorities argued that external pressure and repeated demands for disarmament would have no impact on their long term national strategy.

The comments followed a trilateral meeting held in Tokyo on Friday, where senior representatives from the United States, South Korea, and Japan reaffirmed their shared commitment to removing nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula. The three countries also discussed regional security challenges and cooperation in response to North Korea’s growing military capabilities.

Reacting to the meeting, a spokesperson for North Korea said the country’s status as a nuclear power was irreversible and beyond negotiation. The official described calls for denuclearisation as outdated and unrealistic, arguing that the issue had already been settled by changing regional and global circumstances. The spokesperson further claimed that no outside force could alter North Korea’s current position.

Pyongyang has consistently maintained that its nuclear arsenal serves as a vital deterrent against what it views as military threats from the United States and its allies. North Korean leaders have repeatedly argued that possessing nuclear weapons is necessary for national survival and security. Earlier this month, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of leader Kim Jong Un, referred to the country’s nuclear policy as a path from which there could be no retreat, reinforcing the government’s determination to maintain its weapons programme.

North Korean officials also pointed to ongoing military cooperation between Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo as justification for their nuclear ambitions. The spokesperson criticised the United States for supplying advanced weapons systems to its regional allies and argued that such actions only strengthen North Korea’s belief that a powerful nuclear deterrent is essential. According to the statement, the country’s nuclear capabilities contribute to regional stability by preventing potential conflict.

Relations between North Korea and the United States have remained strained since diplomatic talks collapsed in 2019. Hopes for a breakthrough had emerged during a summit between Kim Jong Un and then US President Donald Trump in Vietnam. However, the meeting ended without an agreement, and negotiations eventually stalled. Since then, North Korea has accelerated its weapons development programmes, conducting missile tests and expanding its nuclear capabilities.

In what appeared to be a reference to those failed negotiations, the latest statement suggested that opportunities for denuclearisation had already passed and could not be revived. North Korean officials argued that political realities have changed significantly over the years, making previous proposals irrelevant.

The announcement also comes amid growing diplomatic activity involving major world powers. Kim Jong Un recently hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang following a series of high level meetings involving China, the United States, and Russia. Despite the significance of those discussions, official reports from both China and North Korea made no mention of denuclearisation, highlighting how the issue appears to be fading from direct negotiations involving Pyongyang.

North Korea’s latest remarks are likely to deepen concerns among neighbouring countries and Western governments. While the United States and its allies continue to advocate for denuclearisation, Pyongyang’s repeated declarations suggest that the prospect of persuading the country to abandon its nuclear arsenal remains increasingly distant. For now, North Korea appears determined to strengthen and preserve the programme it views as the cornerstone of its national security strategy.