North Korea Solidifies Nuclear Status as Permanent, Dismisses US Denuclearization Demands

North Korea’s designation as a nuclear-armed state has been cemented as an irreversible feature of the nation’s supreme and fundamental law, according to a statement from North Korea’s UN mission. This declaration was reported by the official Korean Central News Agency.

A statement released recently criticized the United States for initiating a significant political provocation during the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors meeting. The US was accused of deeming the country’s nuclear arsenal illegal and vocally pressing for denuclearization.

The IAEA stated that it lacks both the legal authority and moral justification to involve itself in the domestic matters of a nuclear-armed nation that is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The statement highlighted that North Korea has maintained a lack of “official relations” with the nuclear watchdog for over three decades.

In 1994, North Korea ended its association with the International Atomic Energy Agency following a dispute concerning nuclear inspections. The nation accused the IAEA of being utilized by Washington to violate its sovereignty.

Pyongyang has declared its steadfast opposition to any efforts aimed at changing the current status of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, asserting its position as a responsible nuclear-armed state, according to an official statement.

In the wake of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent tour of weapons research facilities, he has declared Pyongyang’s commitment to advancing its nuclear capabilities alongside the development of its conventional military forces. This declaration outlines a dual-focused strategy that aims to enhance both the country’s nuclear deterrent and its traditional military strength.

Since an unsuccessful summit with the United States in 2019 regarding denuclearization, North Korea has consistently asserted that it will not relinquish its nuclear arsenal.