North Korea's Kim Yo Jong rejects IAEA denuclearization calls

North Korea nuclear program Kim Yo Jong IAEA General Conference denuclearization uranium enrichment

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has rejected international calls for denuclearization, describing them as 'all noises' and 'familiar noise' during the 70th IAEA General Conference in Vienna.

She asserted that North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state is absolute, permanent, and legally established, and cannot be reversed by any means. Kim dismissed those who believe denuclearization is possible as 'fools who do not know the laws of the world.'

The remarks follow an IAEA report detailing a significant increase in North Korea's uranium enrichment capacity and the expansion of core nuclear facilities at sites such as Yongbyon and Kangson. The IAEA has urged Pyongyang to pursue complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization (CVID) in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Additionally, the North Korean Ministry of Defense warned that US-South Korea military responses and WMD coordination could trigger the country's nuclear force policy law. Estimates of North Korea's nuclear arsenal vary, with US officials citing 57 weapons and South Korean authorities estimating between 80 and 120.

Entities

Donald Trump · IAEA · International Atomic Energy Agency · Kim Jong Un · Kim Jong-un · Kim Yo Jong · Kim Yo-jong · Lee Jae-myung · North Korea · South Korea · United States · Vienna

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] The IAEA reported an increase in North Korea's uranium enrichment capacity and the expansion of nuclear facilities. biz.heraldcorp.com · www.hani.co.kr · www.koreatimes.co.kr · thanhnien.vn · www.koreaherald.com · +1 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] North Korea criticized US-South Korea WMD response consultations as a declaration of confrontation. biz.heraldcorp.com
[● 7 SOURCES] The IAEA urged North Korea to achieve complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization (CVID). biz.heraldcorp.com · www.hani.co.kr · www.koreatimes.co.kr · thanhnien.vn · www.koreaherald.com · +2 more
[● 10 SOURCES] North Korea maintains its nuclear status is physically and legally permanent. biz.heraldcorp.com · www.hani.co.kr · www.koreatimes.co.kr · thanhnien.vn · www.koreaherald.com · +5 more
[● 10 SOURCES] Kim Yo Jong dismissed IAEA denuclearization calls as 'all noises' and 'familiar noise'. biz.heraldcorp.com · www.hani.co.kr · www.koreatimes.co.kr · thanhnien.vn · www.koreaherald.com · +5 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] The North Korean Ministry of Defense warned that US-South Korea military responses could trigger its nuclear force policy law. biz.heraldcorp.com
[● 12 SOURCES] Kim Yo Jong stated that North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state is absolute and irreversible. mekongasean.vn · www.singtaousa.com · berita.rtm.gov.my · polityka.co.pl · biz.heraldcorp.com · +7 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Kim Yo Jong called those who believe denuclearization is possible 'fools who do not know the laws of the world'. www.singtaousa.com · polityka.co.pl · www.stiripesurse.ro · www.tori.ng
[● 2 SOURCES] Estimates for North Korea's nuclear arsenal vary, with the US citing 57 weapons and South Korea estimating 80 to 120. www.singtaousa.com · www.tori.ng