North Korea Declares Nuclear Status Irreversible — SkimNews
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- Kim Yo Jong on Sept 19 accused the IAEA of 'biased viewpoint and double standards,' calling it 'the fundamental factor causing the collapse of the international nuclear non-proliferation system.'
- She singled out US nuclear proliferation activities and South Korea's 'nuclear submarine introduction plan' as examples the IAEA ignored while targeting North Korea's 'self-defensive' nuclear activities.
- North Korea's Foreign Ministry declared its nuclear-armed status 'irreversible' and backed by its nuclear deterrent, dismissing the IAEA resolution in a separate KCNA statement.
- Kim Jong Un completed a three-day inspection tour of major munitions factories, directing artillery to achieve 'the most concentrated and destructive, massive and versatile offensive capability' for both fighting and deterring war.
- Analysts note North Korea's military overhaul has been aided by Russian help since their 2024 mutual defence treaty, with combat experience from troops deployed to Ukraine also feeding into the effort.
Why it matters: North Korea's 'irreversible' declaration effectively forecloses denuclearization negotiations while Kim Jong Un's concurrent munitions factory tour signals active weapons production — not just rhetoric. Analysts directly link that production pipeline to Russian military assistance since the 2024 mutual defence treaty and combat experience from North Korean troops deployed to Ukraine, meaning the defiance is backed by a tangible, externally-supported arms-building effort that the IAEA resolution alone cannot constrain.
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