North Korean leader's sister denounces denuclearization calls, saying
nuclear status is permanent
[April 09, 2025]
By KIM TONG-HYUNG
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim
Jong Un on Wednesday mocked Washington and its Asian allies for what she
called their “daydream” of denuclearizing the North, insisting that the
country will never give up its nuclear weapons program.
The statement by Kim Yo Jong, one of the country's top foreign policy
officials, was in response to a meeting last week between the top
diplomats of the United States, South Korea and Japan where they
reaffirmed their commitment to push for the North’s denuclearization.
Noting that North Korea’s goals for nuclear weapons expansion are
enshrined in its constitution, she insisted that any external
discussions of denuclearization constitute “the most hostile act” and
amount to a denial of her country’s sovereignty.
“If the U.S. and its vassal forces continue to insist on anachronistic
‘denuclearization’ … it will only give unlimited justness and
justification to the advance of the DPRK aspiring after the building of
the strongest nuclear force for self-defense,” she said in comments
released by state media, using the initials of North Korea’s formal
name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. She said North Korea’s
nuclear weapons status can “never be reversed by any physical strength
or sly artifice.”
Tensions in the regions have increased as Kim Jong Un continues to
flaunt his military nuclear capabilities and align with Russia over
President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine. Kim is ignoring calls by
Seoul and Washington to resume denuclearization talks.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would reach out to Kim again to
revive diplomacy, but the North has not responded to that offer. Trump
and Kim met three times during Trump’s first term, but their diplomacy
quickly collapsed over disagreements about ending U.S.-led sanctions in
return for North Korea taking steps to wind down its nuclear and missile
programs.
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People watch a TV screen showing a file image of South Korean acting
President Han Duck-soo and U.S. President Donald Trump, right,
during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South
Korea, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Kim’s foreign policy priority is now Russia, which he has supplied
with weapons and troops to help prolong its warfighting in Ukraine.
Seoul fears that Kim may receive economic assistance and advanced
technology to develop his arsenal in exchange for its military
supporting Russia.
Kim Yo Jong’s statement came a day after South Korea fired warning
shots to repel a group of North Korean soldiers who had crossed the
border. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said about 10 North
Korean soldiers, some carrying weapons, violated the military
demarcation line in the eastern section of the border. When South
Korea issued warnings and fired warning shots, they did not return
fire and returned to North Korea.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether acting president Han Duck-soo
discussed the North Korean nuclear threat with U.S. President Donald
Trump during a telephone conversation on Tuesday.
Trump said in a social media post that the two leaders discussed
tariffs, trade and Seoul’s payment for what he called the “big time”
military protection the United States provides to South Korea. There
are concerns in Seoul that Trump might push South Korea to pay
significantly more of the costs for the some 28,000 U.S. troops
stationed in the country.
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