North Korea’s nuclear status is “irreversible,” according to Kim Yo Jong, who calls on the US to accept this new reality

North Korea’s influential political leader states that denuclearisation discussions will not proceed unless Washington changes its strategy.

Kim Yo Jong of North Korea has asserted that the nation’s position as a nuclear weapons power is “irreversible” and cautioned that any forthcoming discussions with the United States must start from that acknowledgment.

On Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released a statement in which Kim, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a prominent member of the ruling Workers’ Party, dismissed any efforts to challenge Pyongyang’s nuclear status, asserting that it is established in law and supported by the “unanimous will” of the North Korean populace.

“Any effort to dispute the status of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state will be completely dismissed,” she stated, referring to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

She emphasized that a change in Washington’s strategy is crucial, stating, “The US should pursue an alternative method of engagement grounded in this new perspective.”

Kim’s remarks were a reaction to recent statements made by an unidentified White House official, who informed South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency that President Donald Trump was willing to consider re-engaging with Kim Jong Un in order to attain a “fully denuclearised” Korean Peninsula.

Kim recognized the personal connection her brother has with Trump, yet she cautioned against placing too much dependence on their relationship.

“Any effort to leverage their personal connections for the purpose of advancing denuclearisation would be seen as a mockery,” she stated.

Kim Yo Jong also rejected recent outreach efforts by South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung, including his choice to halt propaganda broadcasts along the border, labeling them ineffective in mending inter-Korean relations.

Since Trump’s return to office in January, his administration has indicated a desire to renew diplomatic efforts with North Korea. The previous president conducted three prominent summits with Kim Jong Un from 2018 to 2019, featuring their landmark initial meeting in Singapore.

Nonetheless, those discussions ultimately did not succeed in stopping North Korea’s nuclear development.

In the previous month, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked that Trump was eager to expand upon the “progress” achieved in Singapore, although there has been minimal public discussion regarding alterations in US strategy.

Analysts indicate that Kim Yo Jong’s statement signifies a firming of North Korea’s stance. Jenny Town, who directs the Korea program at the Stimson Center in Washington, indicated that the message signifies a shift in the diplomatic landscape.

“It refrains from directly naming Trump, yet it clarifies that the idea of resuming ‘denuclearisation’ talks as if they were never interrupted is misguided,” Town stated. “A great deal has shifted since 2019, making any idea of restarting discussions on denuclearisation unconvincing.”

Town suggests that future diplomacy could remain feasible, but only if the terms are significantly altered.

“Denuclearisation will not be the focus,” she added. “However, there could be an opportunity for discussions with a different perspective.”

Currently, it is uncertain whether the US is prepared to accept that change or if North Korea is employing the language to influence upcoming negotiation conditions.