Kim Yo-jong Rejects G7 Call for Denuclearisation, Says North Korea’s Nuclear Arsenal Is Non-Negotiable

Seoul, June 2026 : Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has strongly rejected renewed international calls for the denuclearisation of North Korea, declaring that the country’s nuclear weapons programme represents a fundamental national interest and is not open to negotiation.

In a statement released on Thursday through the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim criticised the United States and its allies for continuing to demand that Pyongyang abandon its nuclear arsenal. She described such demands as outdated and unrealistic, arguing that North Korea’s nuclear status has already been firmly established.

Her comments came a day after leaders of the Group of Seven issued a joint statement at their summit in France reaffirming their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Dismissing the G7 position, Kim said denuclearisation was no longer a viable topic for discussion and described it as an issue that had been permanently settled by North Korea. She asserted that the country’s nuclear programme constitutes a “line of no retreat” and insisted that any expectation of Pyongyang abandoning its weapons was unrealistic.

According to Kim, nuclear weapons are central to North Korea’s national security strategy and serve as a powerful deterrent against external threats. She maintained that the arsenal is intended for self-defence and is protected under the laws of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea’s official name.

She further warned that any attempt to undermine what she termed the country’s “core interests” could lead to serious consequences. Her remarks reflected Pyongyang’s long-standing position that nuclear weapons are essential to safeguarding national sovereignty and ensuring regime security.

The G7 statement had been issued following meetings held in Evian-les-Bains, France, where leaders from the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy discussed a range of international security challenges, including developments in the Indo-Pacific region, the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.

In their communiqué, the leaders expressed deep concern over North Korea’s advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. They reiterated their collective commitment to achieving the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and urged Pyongyang to comply with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The G7 leaders also called on North Korea to immediately address the longstanding issue of foreign nationals believed to have been abducted by North Korean agents during the 1970s and 1980s. The abductee issue remains a major concern, particularly for Japan, which has repeatedly sought answers regarding its citizens who disappeared decades ago.

In addition, the group highlighted concerns over alleged cyber activities linked to North Korea, including cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrime operations that Western governments claim have been used to generate revenue for the regime.

Kim Yo-jong’s latest remarks underscore the widening gap between North Korea and the international community on the nuclear issue. While Western powers continue to advocate denuclearisation as a prerequisite for long-term peace and stability in Northeast Asia, Pyongyang has increasingly portrayed its nuclear arsenal as permanent and indispensable.

The statement is likely to further complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at reviving negotiations on North Korea’s nuclear programme, which have remained stalled for several years amid growing regional tensions and continued missile testing by the isolated state.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)