North Korea says nuclear status is non‑negotiable before Xi Jinping visit

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong un, announced that the country's nuclear status is "absolutely non‑negotiable" and cannot be subject to any international pressure or talks on denuclearisation. The statement, relayed by South Korean news agency Yonhap from North Korean state media, was made a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Pyongyang scheduled for June 8‑9, the first such visit by a Chinese president in seven years.

The declaration underscores Pyongyang’s insistence on retaining its nuclear arsenal, which was enshrined in its constitution in 2023, despite United Nations sanctions. China remains a key political and economic backer of North Korea, and the timing follows Xi’s recent summits with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim Yo Jong’s remarks signal that North Korea will reject any negotiations that seek to curtail its nuclear programme.

"Our status as a nuclear power is absolutely non‑negotiable," she said, adding that the regime will not tolerate any threats.