N.K. Leader’s Sister Declares Nuclear Status as ‘Irreversible’

Pyongyang: The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has asserted that the country's status as a nuclear-armed state is "absolutely irreversible" and emphasized that North Korea will not tolerate any threats against its sovereignty, as reported by the North's state media on Sunday. According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Yo-jong made these remarks in a statement issued by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). She reaffirmed Pyongyang's position that its nuclear weapons program is nonnegotiable and rejected international initiatives aimed at denuclearization. "Our status as a nuclear weapons state is an absolutely irreversible red line and an undeniable reality whether anyone recognizes it or not," her statement declared. This statement was released just one day before Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned visit to Pyongyang, which is apparently intended to emphasize that North Korea's nuclear weapons program is not up for negotiation during talks between Xi and Kim Jong-un. Meanwhile, a U.S. Sta te Department spokesperson highlighted that U.S. President Donald Trump and Xi had reaffirmed their shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea during their recent summit in Beijing. Kim Yo-jong, who holds a senior position as a department director within the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, criticized the U.S. official's comments, accusing Washington of spreading falsehoods. She also indicated that Pyongyang had received a direct explanation from Beijing regarding discussions between Trump and Xi, asserting, "We have the most accurate information regarding whether such a thing occurred." The statement further justified North Korea's ongoing efforts to enhance its military capabilities, citing what it described as persistent military threats from hostile nations, including the recent U.S. approval of a potential sale of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision bombs and related equipment to South Korea. Kim emphasized, "This is why we are devoted to strengthening our self-defense capabil ities to guarantee the security of the state in the face of hostile countries' continuous military buildup."