Kim Yo Jong told state media that North Korea's nuclear status is "absolutely non-negotiable," repeating Pyongyang's constitutional claim to nuclear weapons and warning it will not tolerate threats. The statement, published ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang, also dismissed a White House claim that Xi and Donald Trump had reaffirmed a shared goal of denuclearisation as false. KCNA reported Kim Jong Un inspected a munitions factory and urged increased missile production. Analysts say the message signals North Korea's sensitivity to any US-China coordination on denuclearisation.
Kim Yo Jong Declares North Korea's Nuclear Status 'Absolutely Non-Negotiable' Ahead Of Xi Visit
Pyongyang has long insisted on its right to a nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes although they are forbidden under the terms of UN Security Council sanctions (JORGE SILVA)(JORGE SILVA/POOL/AFP)
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a forceful statement on Sunday declaring that the country's nuclear weapons programme is "absolutely non-negotiable." The message, carried by state media, came just before Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Pyongyang.
Key Message
Published in the official Rodong Sinmun, Kim's statement reiterated Pyongyang's long-standing position that its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes are fundamental to national defence — despite UN Security Council sanctions prohibiting such activities. The North formally enshrined its nuclear status in its constitution in 2023.
"Our status as a nuclear power is absolutely non-negotiable," Kim Yo Jong wrote, adding that the regime "will not tolerate any threats."
Context And Timing
The statement arrived on the eve of Xi Jinping's visit, set to be his first trip to North Korea in seven years. Beijing remains a crucial source of political and economic support for the isolated state. Xi's trip follows a string of high-profile meetings he held last month, including summits with US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Response To White House Claim
Kim Yo Jong directly challenged a White House fact sheet released after the Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, which said the two leaders "confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea." Pyongyang called that claim false.
Kim accused some US officials of clinging to an "escapist and anachronistic dream" and described Washington's statement as "habitual dissemination of false information." She added that efforts to deny or contest the North's nuclear status "carry no legal force."
Military Production And International Ties
Separately, the state news agency KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un inspected a major munitions factory and urged managers to raise production capacity "in order to supply enough quantity of missiles." Pyongyang also asserts it has strengthened ties with Moscow during the war in Ukraine; analysts note these relationships and recent events have emboldened the leadership.
Analyst Views
Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification told AFP the statement underscores Pyongyang's sensitivity to any suggestion that the US and China might have reached an understanding on North Korean denuclearisation. He added it is possible Pyongyang sought confirmation from Beijing during summit coordination that no denuclearisation discussion had taken place.
Why It Matters: The declaration highlights Pyongyang's entrenched stance on nuclear deterrence at a moment of heightened diplomatic activity involving China, the United States and Russia. Xi's visit is likely to draw international attention to whether Beijing will press for restraint or continue to bolster ties with Pyongyang.
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