North Korea Vows Eternal Nuclear Status Despite New Diplomacy
Pyongyang rejects denuclearization demands while Seoul proposes a phased reduction strategy at the UN.
Key points
- North Korea declared its nuclear arsenal permanent and irreversible on September 24.
- President Lee Jae Myung proposed a phased reduction strategy at the UN on September 22.
- Pyongyang rejected the denuclearization goals of South Korea, the US, and Japan.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui declared on September 24 that the country's nuclear arsenal is permanent. This statement followed recent diplomatic efforts by Seoul to restart talks with Pyongyang.
According to chosun.com, the minister described the commitment as irreversible for centuries. She directly challenged the stance of South Korea, the US, and Japan on this issue.
Pyongyang rejects trilateral denuclearization goals
The foreign minister criticized a joint statement by South Korea, the US, and Japan. Those nations reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Choe called their goal unrealistic and hostile.
She argued that the three countries maintain an anachronistic confrontational nature. Her remarks explicitly target the policy framework proposed by the South Korean government. This marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic language.
Seoul proposes phased reduction strategy
President Lee Jae Myung outlined a different approach at the UN General Assembly. Speaking on September 22 in New York, he proposed halting nuclear capability advancement first. He suggested a medium-term reduction phase follows this initial step.
The long-term goal is a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. Lee also pledged to lay the groundwork for resuming North Korea-US dialogue. He aimed to transition the region toward a peace regime.
Persistent disagreement on core objectives
Seoul previously proposed the E.N.D. initiative during the UN General Assembly. This plan focuses on exchange, normalization, and denuclearization for sustainable peace. However, North Korea has repeatedly stated it has no intention of giving up its weapons.
The current diplomatic gap remains significant. Observers will watch if Seoul maintains its phased approach despite the hardline response. The next steps depend on whether dialogue channels remain open.
