North Korea has declared that it is no longer bound by any treaty related to nuclear non-proliferation, reaffirming its stance as a nuclear weapons state amid continued international pressure over its weapons programme.
Read More: North Korea Declines Participation in NPT Framework
According to state media outlet KCNA, North Korea’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Kim Song, said Pyongyang rejects criticism raised during the 11th review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at UN headquarters.
North Korea is not bound to any treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, state media KCNA report, as Pyongyang continues to reject international pressure and sanctions to dismantle its nuclear program.https://t.co/Ga5ZuUankJ
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Kim accused the United States and allied countries of politicising the issue and attempting to undermine the atmosphere of the conference by raising concerns about North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
He stated that North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state would not change based on what he described as outside pressure or unilateral demands.
North Korea originally joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1985 but announced its withdrawal in 2003 during a period of escalating tensions with the United States over allegations that it was pursuing a covert nuclear weapons programme.
The legality of Pyongyang’s withdrawal from the treaty has remained disputed internationally, but North Korea has consistently maintained that it is no longer bound by NPT obligations.
North Korea has continued to expand its nuclear and missile capabilities despite years of international sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Analysts estimate that the country has developed sufficient fissile material for dozens of nuclear warheads.
Efforts to curb North Korea’s nuclear ambitions through diplomacy have repeatedly stalled. US President Donald Trump previously held high-profile summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018 and 2019, but talks collapsed without an agreement on denuclearisation.
North Korea has since maintained that it will not abandon its nuclear weapons unless broader security concerns and US policy demands are addressed.
Read More: North Korea intensifies missile tests with new launches into sea
The latest statement underscores Pyongyang’s continued resistance to international calls for dismantling its nuclear programme.