North Korea vows to maintain nuclear weapons status ‘forever’

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has declared that the country will maintain its nuclear weapons status ‘forever’, rejecting calls for denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

The announcement follows a speech at the United Nations General Assembly by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who expressed a desire to halt Pyongyang’s weapons development and eventually achieve a nuclear-free peninsula. President Lee also indicated intentions to lay the groundwork for renewed dialogue between North Korea and the United States.

In a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Choe emphasized that North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state is enshrined in its laws and is unchangeable under any circumstances. Choe noted that while other parties might attempt to balance confrontation with dialogue, such an approach is not an option for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.