North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's powerful sister has mocked Washington and its Asian partners as a “dream” about North Korea's denuclearization.
She stressed that the country will never abandon its nuclear program.
The statement by Kim Yo Jong, one of the country's top foreign policy officials, came in response to a recent meeting of senior diplomats from the United States, South Korea and Japan, at which they reaffirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of North Korea.
Noting that North Korea's goals of expanding its nuclear arsenal are enshrined in its constitution, she argued that any external discussion of denuclearization constituted “the most hostile act” and amounted to a denial of its state's sovereignty.
“If the US and its vassals continue to insist on the outdated concept of 'denuclearization'… it will only add to the justification and legitimacy for the DPRK (North Korea) to seek to build a powerful nuclear force to defend itself,” she said in comments carried by state media.
She added that North Korea's status as a nuclear state “can never be changed by any physical force or clever maneuvers.”
Tensions in the region have risen as Mr Kim continues to flaunt his military nuclear capabilities and reach out to Russia in the context of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. He has ignored calls from Seoul and Washington to resume denuclearization talks.
US President Donald Trump has said he would re-engage with Mr Kim to restore diplomatic ties, but North Korea has not responded. They met three times during Mr Trump’s first term, but their diplomacy quickly unraveled over disagreements over lifting US sanctions in exchange for North Korea’s steps to curb its nuclear and missile programmes.
Mr Kim's foreign policy priority has become cooperation with Russia, to which he provides weapons and troops to support its military operations in Ukraine.
Seoul fears that Kim Jong-un could receive economic aid and advanced technology to improve his arsenal in exchange for Russian military support.
Kim Yo Jong's statement came a day after South Korea fired warning shots to stop an attack by a group of North Korean soldiers who crossed the border.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said about 10 North Korean troops, some of whom were armed, had violated the military demarcation line on the eastern section of the border. When South Korea
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
