North Korea says its nuclear status is nonnegotiable ahead of Xi visit
Kim Yo Jong reaffirmed Pyongyang’s commitment to expanding its nuclear arsenal before a high-profile visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping
Auf einen Blick
- North Korea said it will not back down from developing nuclear weapons ahead of a high-profile visit by Xi Jinping.
- Kim Yo Jong described the country’s nuclear status as irreversible and nonnegotiable.
KI-generierte Zusammenfassung
Warum es wichtig ist
The article says North Korea first announced a nuclear test in 2006 and wrote its nuclear power status into its constitution in 2023. It also reports that Pyongyang recently unveiled a new uranium enrichment facility and ordered expanded missile production.
North Korea said it will not back down from developing nuclear weapons a day before a high-profile visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"Our status as a nuclear power is absolutely nonnegotiable," Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said in comments published by the official newspaper Rodong Sinmun on Sunday.
She is considered a key communications and foreign policy figure in North Korea.
"The policy of continuously strengthening self-defensive nuclear war deterrence, as declared by the head of state, is an irreversible and final conclusion that must be executed unconditionally," she added.
North Korea announced its first nuclear test in 2006 and enshrined its status as a nuclear power in its constitution in 2023.
Earlier this week, North Korea unveiled a new facility to enrich weapons-grade uranium. Kim visited the site, where he called for an "exponential" expansion of the country's nuclear arsenal.
Analysts said the new nuclear site appeared aimed at reinforcing North Korea's negotiating position ahead of the meeting between Kim and Xi.
Kim also visited a major munitions factory and ordered the country's missile production capacity to be more than doubled over the next five years, according to state media.
Worauf zu achten ist
KI-Ausblick — Möglichkeiten, keine Fakten
The planned meeting involving Xi Jinping and North Korean leadership is likely to focus heavily on security and nuclear issues.
Sehr wahrscheinlich · Innerhalb von Tagen
North Korea is likely to continue publicly emphasizing expansion of its nuclear and missile capabilities.
Sehr wahrscheinlich · Innerhalb von Wochen
Further reporting is likely to examine whether the new uranium facility was intended to strengthen Pyongyang’s negotiating position.
Wahrscheinlich · Innerhalb von Tagen
Offene Fragen
- What is the agenda of Xi Jinping’s visit?
- Whether the meeting between Kim and Xi will produce any public agreement on security issues?
- Where exactly is the newly unveiled uranium enrichment facility?
- How large is the planned expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal?
