North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un doubled down on his country’s commitment to nuclear weapons Friday, calling them the backbone of national security during a meeting with top scientists and technicians.
Speaking at a key session on producing nuclear materials and weapons, Kim stressed that preparing a strong nuclear response is an “essential top-priority task” for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). He described this as an “unchangeable duty” to protect the nation’s sovereignty.
“The powerful deterrent—peacekeeping and security backed by nuclear forces—is our invariable stand,” Kim said, according to state media outlet Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
This comes right after the Trump administration renewed its push for complete denuclearization of North Korea. Kim praised progress in building the country’s nuclear capabilities, noting that experts had successfully tackled two major tasks tied to a new nuclear strategy. KCNA didn’t spell out what those tasks involved, but Kim seemed pleased, saying the “main links” in advancing North Korea’s nuclear program are now in place. He urged officials to bolster the “nuclear shield and sword” for reliable defense.
The meeting included Hong Sung-mu, a senior party official seen as a driving force behind North Korea’s nuclear push.
Just days ago, in a speech to lawmakers, Kim said North Korea is willing to talk with the United States—but only if Washington drops its denuclearization demands. He made it clear: North Korea will never abandon its nuclear arsenal. The country has locked in its “irreversible” status as a nuclear power in its constitution.
Adding to the tension, South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young shared expert estimates Thursday that North Korea holds up to 2,000 kilograms of highly enriched uranium. He added that the North likely runs uranium centrifuges at four sites to build up its nuclear stockpile.
As U.S.-North Korea relations hang in the balance, Kim’s words signal no backing down on the nuclear front.
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