North Korea: Our Nuclear Weapons Are Irreversible

SadaNews - North Korea stated that the issue of its nuclear weapons has been "settled irreversibly", criticizing recent talks between the United States and South Korea regarding nuclear deterrence.

The Korean Central News Agency quoted a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry as saying that "the absurd rhetoric coming from the United States and its allies, along with their cooperation in forming a nuclear threat against Pyongyang, will never affect North Korea's final irrevocable position as a nuclear-armed state".

Last week, officials from the United States and South Korea discussed ways to enhance nuclear deterrence and prepare to confront North Korea's growing weapons program during a meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group in Seoul.

As of January 2025, the nine nuclear-armed states—Russia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea—are estimated to possess 12,241 nuclear warheads, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The United States and Russia account for about 90% of the world's nuclear weapons and have undertaken major modernization programs in recent years, according to the institute.