North Korea declares nuclear programme irreversible before Xi Jinping's Pyongyang visit

North Korea announced that its nuclear weapons programme is "irreversible," a stance voiced by Kim Yo‑jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong‑un and head of the Workers’ Party General Affairs Department. She dismissed U.S. calls for denuclearisation as an "anachronistic dream" and affirmed that the DPRK’s nuclear status is a non‑negotiable line of defence and sovereignty.

The remarks came a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping began his first two‑day visit to Pyongyang in seven years, a trip expected to address bilateral security, nuclear policy and regional stability. The visit follows a recent U.S.–China meeting in which both leaders said they shared a goal of denuclearising the Korean peninsula, though China did not mention the issue. North Korea’s declaration signals it will not compromise on its nuclear arsenal despite diplomatic pressure.