North Korea declares denuclearization finalized, condemns US arms sales

North Korea has declared that denuclearization is an "irreversibly finalized" matter, directly challenging recent discussions between South Korea and the United States that aimed to reaffirm the goal of the North's denuclearization. An unnamed director-general for external policy of North Korea's foreign ministry issued a statement criticizing these talks, calling them an "unreasonable talk and fantastic daydream."

The spokesperson further stated that the "U.S. and its vassal forces' meaningless rhetoric against the DPRK and cooperation in posing a nuclear threat to it can never affect the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state." The statement explicitly said, "The 'denuclearization' is an irreversibly finalized matter."

This stance also addresses recent Extended Deterrence Dialogue between the United States and Japan, where both nations reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea's "complete denuclearization." The North Korean spokesperson asserted that regardless of efforts by the U.S., Japan, and South Korea (ROK), they would not alter the DPRK's status as a nuclear weapons state. The foreign ministry also condemned the U.S. decision to approve the sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to South Korea, warning the move would worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula. The director-general stated that U.S. arms exports are war exports, and North Korea would continue strengthening its self-defensive deterrent to maintain the regional balance of power.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent Pyongyang visit may ultimately be remembered as a turning point in the international debate over North Korea’s nuclear weapons. Throughout the visit, neither side publicly referenced the denuclearization issue. On the contrary, Xi called for expanded cooperation in the military sphere – marking a shift in China’s long-held position in support of the Korean peninsula’s denuclearisation. Although Xi has not explicitly recognised North Korea as a nuclear weapons state, his silence on the issue spoke volumes. Russia has effectively accepted Pyongyang’s nuclear status, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov calling the denuclearisation of North Korea a “closed issue” back in September 2024. With Xi’s trip, China appears to be quietly moving in a similar direction, leaving Washington increasingly isolated in its insistence that North Korea can still be persuaded to surrender its nuclear weapons.