Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has described the United States’ demand for nuclear disarmament as a “timelessly irrelevant illusion.” She emphasized that North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed country represents a “red line” that cannot be crossed. Kim made it clear that Pyongyang will never compromise on issues concerning its defense and sovereignty. (May 25, Kathmandu)
Following a recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, the U.S. announced an agreement on a shared goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. However, the official Chinese statement made no reference to this matter. Meanwhile, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported that Kim Yo-jong described the American remarks as “false information.”
Kim Yo-jong referred to the U.S. demand for nuclear disarmament as an “anachronistic dream.” She asserted, “It is imperative to continually strengthen the capacity to deter nuclear war for self-defense… This is an unconditional, unalterable, and final decision.” As head of the Workers’ Party’s General Affairs Department, Kim added, “North Korea’s position as a nuclear-armed nation constitutes a red line that cannot be crossed. Whether accepted or not, this is an undeniable reality.”
North Korea has consistently framed its nuclear weapons as a central pillar of its self-defense. Kim reiterated Pyongyang’s stance that it will “never make any compromises regarding its defense and sovereignty.”
