North Korea's Vice Defense Minister Says Denuclearization Delusion Must Be Dropped, Nuclear Status Is Irreversible

North Korea has urged the international community, including South Korea and the United States, to abandon demands for denuclearization, claiming that its status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible.

Kim Kang-il, North Korea's vice defense minister, stated during a speech at the 3rd plenary session of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum held at the Beijing International Convention Center in Beijing today (17th) that "hostile countries must drop their meddling in our legitimate self-defensive defense policy and their unrealistic delusions of denuclearization."

Kim reaffirmed North Korea's policy of strengthening its nuclear forces, stating, "Our status as a nuclear weapons state, solidified by the state's supreme law, the constitution, is an absolute and irreversible boundary."

He added, "As the nuclear threats from hostile forces reach their maximum and their nuclear alliance confrontation schemes become increasingly active, we will continuously expand and strengthen our self-defensive nuclear war deterrence based on the principle of ensuring security and defending peace through powerful strength."

He also blamed the United States, South Korea, and Japan for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, defining South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation as a "nuclear alliance."

Kim claimed, "In the Northeast Asian region, Japan and South Korea, under the connivance and encouragement of the United States, are enthusiastic about reckless military buildup schemes aimed at acquiring nuclear weapons," adding, "The transformation of the trilateral military cooperation system among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea into a nuclear alliance has become a reality."

He further stated, "The fundamental reason why the situation on the Korean Peninsula cannot escape the vicious cycle of confrontation and escalating tension lies in the political and military confrontation schemes of the United States and its followers, who have made a hostile policy toward North Korea a national policy for over 80 years and have expanded their nuclear war preparation levels step by step."

Criticizing U.S. nuclear strategy, he claimed, "The U.S. is entering into the formulation of a new nuclear strategy focused on expanding attack capabilities using tactical nuclear weapons," and that "it is evolving its nuclear strategy toward actual use and having a serious negative impact on the security environment of the Asia-Pacific region."

Kim also reiterated the standing position that North Korea's buildup of nuclear forces is intended to counter threats from the United States and others.

He argued, "The relentless nuclear buildup schemes of hostile countries provide sufficient justification for the establishment of our republic's robust nuclear shield and further highlight the validity and necessity of the line of strengthening nuclear forces."

He continued, "Our nuclear policy was adopted by accurately reflecting national security concerns arising from existing and prospective threats."

Along with this, Kim expressed an intention to strengthen relations with friendly nations including China, stating, "We will make joint efforts to oppose hegemony and unilateralism and establish a fair international order."

The Xiangshan Forum, hosted by China's Ministry of National Defense, is a multilateral security meeting often referred to as China's version of the Shangri-La Dialogue. This year's event has been held in Beijing since the 15th for a three-day schedule.
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.