North Korea Firmly Maintains Nuclear Position at UN While Leaving Door Open for Diplomacy

North Korea's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kim Son Gyong addresses the 80th UNGA

In a rare appearance at the United Nations, North Korea's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kim Son Gyong firmly stated that Pyongyang will never relinquish its nuclear arsenal, while still keeping diplomatic channels open.

The high-ranking official traveled to New York for the UN's annual high-level week, representing North Korea at a higher diplomatic level than usual, as this role was typically fulfilled by the country's ambassador.

"Demanding 'Denuclearization' of the DPRK is equivalent to asking us to surrender our sovereignty and right to exist, violating our Constitution," Gyong declared during his address.

"Nuclear weapons are enshrined in our state law, national policy, and represent our sovereign power and right to existence. We will never abandon this position under any circumstances."

This statement follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent indication that he would consider talks with the United States, provided North Korea could maintain its nuclear capabilities, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea, which conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, remains under numerous UN sanctions for its prohibited weapons programs.

According to South Korea's intelligence agency, North Korea operates multiple uranium enrichment facilities, including one at the Yongbyon nuclear complex. This facility was supposedly decommissioned following previous negotiations but was reactivated in 2021.

At the United Nations on Tuesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged to work toward ending the "vicious cycle" of tensions with North Korea, emphasizing that regime change is not South Korea's objective.

Vice Minister Gyong stated, "The DPRK will continue to collaborate with all countries and nations that oppose aggression, intervention, domination, and subjugation while aspiring for independence and justice, regardless of differences in ideologies and systems." He did not specifically mention any particular country in his remarks.