Kim Yo Jong: North Korea’s status as a nuclear power must be unshakable, and those who hope to give up nuclear weapons are fools

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of powerful North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said on the 17th that North Korea's status as a nuclear power is "never shaken" and that those who hope that North Korea will give up its nuclear weapons are "idiots." North Korea's Deputy Defense Minister Kang Il also emphasized at the "Xiangshan Forum" in Beijing that North Korea's status as a nuclear power is an "irreversible bottom line" and urged the international community such as South Korea and the United States to put aside the "delusion" of North Korea's denuclearization.

Agence France-Presse reported on the 17th that Kim Yo-jong issued a statement through North Korea's official media agency KCNA, saying that "North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state is absolutely unshakable and will not be reversed by anything." She pointed out that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons "have made a significant contribution to deterring the heinous acts of international gangsters."

The statement came as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held a general conference in Vienna, Austria. Kim Yo Jong criticized the expectation that there will be "familiar stupid remarks" asking North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons. "If they believe that this is really possible, then they will only hear idiots talking about dreams." She said that no matter how hostile forces deny it in words, North Korea's status as a nuclear weapons state "has been permanently established substantively and legally and will not change at all."

North Korea has enshrined its status as a nuclear-armed state into law, and its leader has declared that North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons is "permanent and irreversible." U.S. President Trump said in August that Pyongyang possesses 57 "powerful" nuclear weapons; South Korea estimates the number to be between 80 and 120.

A South Korean Unification Ministry official said that the timing of Kim Yo Jong's statement is noteworthy. "Just recently, U.S. President Trump expressed his willingness to dialogue with North Korea." South Korea is paying close attention to it.

In addition, according to reports from Reuters and Yonhap News Agency, North Korea's Deputy Defense Minister Kim Kong gave a speech at the "Xiangshan Forum" in Beijing on the 17th. He also stated that North Korea's status as a nuclear power was established in accordance with the country's constitution, "which is an irreversible bottom line." He criticized the United States, Japan and South Korea. The trilateral military cooperation mechanism between South Korea and South Korea is transforming into a nuclear alliance. With the acquiescence and encouragement of the United States, Japan and South Korea are vigorously promoting military strengthening actions with the goal of possessing nuclear weapons. "Hostile countries continue to expand their nuclear weapons, providing sufficient legitimacy for North Korea to establish a solid nuclear backstop."