North Korea warns adversaries to abandon denuclearization hopes

North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il has urged adversaries to abandon any “illusions” regarding the denuclearization of the country. Speaking at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, Kim asserted that North Korea’s nuclear status is a “red line” enshrined in its constitution.

Kim attributed regional security escalations to the “hostile” policies of the United States and its allies. He accused Washington and its partners of conducting military exercises based on the potential use of nuclear weapons and increasing preparations for nuclear warfare in the region. Furthermore, he claimed that Japan and South Korea are pursuing reckless military expansion with U.S. encouragement, characterizing the trilateral cooperation between Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul as a “nuclear alliance.”

The remarks come amid strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Beijing. Following a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to North Korea in June, the two nations agreed to open a “new chapter” in bilateral relations, with China proposing increased military exchanges.