Kim Yo-jong Warns: "Tampering with the Core Interests of a Nuclear-Armed State Is a Catastrophic Choice"

Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea and the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has denounced the inclusion of a call for the "complete denuclearization of North Korea" in the joint statement issued at the Group of Seven (G7) summit, labeling it an "act of overreach."

Yonhap News

In a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency on June 18, Deputy Director Kim sharply criticized the G7’s demand for denuclearization, saying, "We express strong discontent and regret over the G7’s act of overstepping, which constitutes a direct infringement on our national constitution, and we resolutely denounce and reject it in the clearest possible terms."

She further stated, "As the main culprit undermining world peace, security, and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, the G7 has neither the qualification nor the right to comment on, nor interfere with, the sovereign choices of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." Kim added, "There is no way the G7 is unaware that the issue of 'denuclearization,' which has already been conclusively settled, can never be realized at any time. If they truly do not know this, it only exposes their lack of political discernment and sense of reality."

Deputy Director Kim argued that North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons is a legitimate deterrent for regime protection, not for offensive purposes.

She said, "There is nothing more foolish than sitting idly by in the face of military threats accompanied by nuclear weapons," emphasizing, "As we have been subjected to constant and sustained nuclear threats from adversaries, the nuclear weapons we have acquired to defend ourselves are not a cause for concern for anyone except those who intend to harm us." She continued, "Our nuclear force is a powerful means of safeguarding sovereignty as granted by the laws of the Republic, and a cornerstone for ensuring peace. Both the identity and permanence of our nuclear deterrent, as a means of self-defense and response, will remain immutable."

She warned, "Possessing nuclear weapons is a core interest that we must absolutely defend, and 'denuclearization' is an irreversible red line that must never be crossed. In any circumstance, by anyone, infringing upon the core interests of a nuclear-armed state would be the worst possible and catastrophic choice."

Previously, the G7 leaders, who gathered in Évian-les-Bains, France, on June 17 (local time), adopted a joint statement expressing deep concern over North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile program. The G7 leaders urged in the statement, "North Korea’s complete denuclearization must be achieved in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions." In this joint declaration, not only the G7 member states but also the invited leaders of South Korea, India, Kenya, Brazil, and Egypt signed in agreement with the relevant issues.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.