North Korea has dismissed international calls for denuclearization as “outdated,” asserting that its nuclear capabilities are not up for negotiation but are instead operational weapons for real combat.
In a commentary published on February 8, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stated, “Our nuclear weapons are not a means to seek recognition from others, nor are they bargaining chips to be exchanged for money.”
The report further emphasized, “Our state’s nuclear force is an immutable, real combat weapon designed to swiftly eliminate any invasion attempt from hostile forces threatening our sovereignty, people’s security, and regional peace.”
This statement appears to be a direct response to recent remarks from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU), both of which reaffirmed that they do not recognize North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.
KCNA denounced NATO and the EU as “anti-Republic confrontation groups loyal to the United States.” It also criticized their statements calling for the “complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement (CVID) of North Korea’s nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, other weapons of mass destruction, and ballistic missile programs,” calling such demands “outdated nonsense.”
The commentary further accused the U.S. and its allies of undermining global stability. “The world today is experiencing unprecedented suffering caused by the destructive actions of the U.S.-led Western bloc,” KCNA claimed. “This is precisely why our policy of continuously strengthening nuclear power is justified. The reality is that hostile forces pursuing their own agendas feel a growing sense of deep anxiety and uncertainty in the face of our nuclear force.”
Additionally, the statement accused NATO and the EU of meddling in regional affairs, stating, “Despite being geographically distant from the Korean Peninsula, they are desperately attempting to stage yet another act of destroying peace.”
KCNA also took aim at the United Nations (UN), demanding that it “acknowledge the true source of wars breaking out across the globe and remain faithful to its purpose and mission, rather than making unjustified comments on the DPRK’s legitimate self-defense measures.”
The remarks come as senior officials from the Trump administration reaffirm their commitment to North Korea’s “complete denuclearization.”
On February 7, ahead of the U.S.-Japan summit, a senior Trump administration official stated, “The Trump administration, just as in the first term, is committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.” The official also emphasized that the U.S. will work closely with its partners, including Japan and South Korea, in addressing North Korea’s nuclear issue.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
