North Korea says its nuclear programme is ‘irreversible’ ahead of Chinese leader’s visit
North Korea rejected US denuclearisation calls, calling its nuclear status irreversible a day before Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Kim Yo-jong dismissed Washington’s denuclearisation push as outdated and said North Korea’s nuclear deterrent is final and non-negotiable. The remarks came just before Xi Jinping’s first visit to North Korea in seven years, raising questions about whether he will press the issue.
North Korea is saying its nuclear weapons are here to stay, like a lock it will not remove from a door. This was said just before China’s top leader visited, so the trip may include a tough talk about weapons and safety.
Analysis
What North Korea said
North Korea’s leadership, through Kim Yo-jong, said the country’s nuclear weapons programme is now fixed and cannot be reversed. She rejected the US call for denuclearisation, calling it an outdated idea and denying that Washington’s position reflects reality.
Why the timing matters
The statement came a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day visit to North Korea, his first in seven years. The article says one of the main questions during the trip is whether Xi will raise Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal directly.
The diplomatic backdrop
The remarks follow a meeting last month between Donald Trump and Xi, after which the US said both leaders shared the goal of denuclearising the Korean peninsula. SCMP notes that China’s public statement did not mention denuclearisation, leaving room for interpretation about Beijing’s position.
Kim Yo-jong’s comments underline that Pyongyang sees its weapons as essential to self-defence and sovereignty. In the article, she says North Korea will not compromise on defence and insists its nuclear status is a reality whether others accept it or not.
What this means
The article frames the visit as a test of how much leverage China has with North Korea on the nuclear issue. It also shows that, at least publicly, Pyongyang is closing the door on denuclearisation talks rather than softening its stance ahead of Xi’s arrival.
Key points
- North Korea called its nuclear programme irreversible and rejected US denuclearisation demands.
- Kim Yo-jong said the country’s nuclear status is non-negotiable and tied to sovereignty.
- The statement came just before Xi Jinping’s first visit to North Korea in seven years.
- SCMP says a key question is whether Xi will raise North Korea’s nuclear arsenal during the trip.
Xi’s visit could still keep communication open between Beijing and Pyongyang, even if the nuclear issue is not resolved publicly. If the topic is raised privately, China may still have a chance to press for restraint or future dialogue.
North Korea’s hard line makes denuclearisation talks look even less likely in the near term. The sharp contrast between Washington’s and Pyongyang’s positions could also complicate Xi’s effort to balance ties with both sides.
