North Korea has vowed to retain its nuclear weapons permanently, rejecting renewed calls by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said Thursday that Pyongyang’s status as a nuclear-armed state was irreversible and would remain unchanged.
“I reaffirm and reconfirm in the strongest tone of voice the steadfast will of our state to keep nuclear weapons through all ages,” Choe said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
She said North Korea’s nuclear status was “irreversible in any case and will remain unchanged forever,” adding that its nuclear weapons state status was “everlasting” regardless of statements by hostile forces.
Choe’s remarks came a day after Lee told the United Nations General Assembly that South Korea wanted to halt the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and ultimately establish a Korean Peninsula “free from nuclear weapons.”
Lee, who has repeatedly called for renewed engagement with Pyongyang, also said South Korea would work to create conditions for the resumption of stalled dialogue between North Korea and the United States.
He said last week that US President Donald Trump “clearly wants dialogue” with Pyongyang.
Trump, who held three meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term, said last month that he planned to meet Kim later this year.
Meanwhile, North Korea said Thursday that it had tested “updated 240-millimetre controlled multiple-launch rockets” on September 22.
KCNA reported that the weapons could strike targets up to 115 kilometres (71 miles) away.
North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister is expected to address the UN General Assembly next week.
