North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, condemned a G7 call for the country’s denuclearization on June 18, 2026, calling it a violation of sovereignty and an infringement of the nation’s constitution, according to state media KCNA.
Kim said denuclearization was an “irreversibly finalised agenda” that could never be realised, and that nuclear possession represented North Korea’s core interest and an irreversible line. “Denuclearisation is the line of no retreat that can never be crossed,” she was quoted as saying by Reuters.
She also warned that anyone who attempted to hurt the core interests of a nuclear weapons state would be making “the worst option of inviting disaster.” Kim described North Korea’s nuclear weapons as a self-defensive deterrent acquired in response to what she called persistent nuclear threats from enemies, and characterised them as a “cornerstone” for ensuring peace.
The G7’s joint statement, issued on June 17 after their summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, expressed “deep concern” about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and reaffirmed the group’s commitment to the country’s complete denuclearization in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. The statement also urged North Korea to resolve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang and called for joint efforts to address North Korea’s cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrimes.
Kim Yo Jong’s rebuke reflects a hardening stance that North Korea has maintained for months. In March 2026, Kim Jong Un declared his country’s nuclear status “irreversible” and vowed to continue consolidating North Korea’s position as a nuclear power. North Korea withdrew from the Non-Proliferation Treaty in January 2003, becoming the only nation to do so, and has since repeatedly rejected denuclearization demands from the international community.
Kim Yo Jong argued that calls for denuclearization were “completely out of date” and would not change no matter how loudly any group criticised North Korea’s nuclear programme. The statement, carried by the Korean Central News Agency, reflects Pyongyang’s consistent position that its nuclear arsenal is non-negotiable and central to its survival strategy in a region it views as hostile.
Sources
- Reuters — Kim Yo Jong’s statement condemning G7 denuclearization call, direct quotes, and G7 joint statement language
- The Korea Herald — Kim Yo Jong’s statement on North Korea’s nuclear status and sovereignty
- The Straits Times — Reporting on Kim Yo Jong’s G7 condemnation
- NPR — Kim Jong Un’s March 2026 declaration of irreversible nuclear status
- Arms Control Association — North Korea’s NPT withdrawal date and context
