North Korea claims exemption from international nuclear non-proliferation treaties

North Korea’s Ambassador to the UN Declares Country’s Nuclear Status Unchanged

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations, Kim Song, stated that Pyongyang will not be bound by any treaty on atomic weapons and that external pressure will not change its status as a nuclear-armed state. This statement was made during the ongoing 11th NPT Review Conference at UN headquarters.

According to reports carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, Ambassador Kim said that the United States and other countries are “groundlessly calling into question” North Korea’s current status and exercise of sovereign rights. He emphasized that the country’s status as a nuclear-armed state will not be altered based on external claims or desires.

The ambassador also reiterated that North Korea’s constitution enshrines its principles for the use of nuclear weapons, making it clear that the country will not be bound by the Non-Proliferation Treaty under any circumstances. This stance is consistent with North Korea’s long-held position that it will not give up its nuclear arsenal.

North Korea has been a vocal critic of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which it withdrew from in 2003. The country has conducted six nuclear tests and faces multiple UN Security Council sanctions. According to recent reports, North Korea is believed to possess dozens of nuclear warheads.

The nine nuclear-armed states, including Russia, the US, France, the UK, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea, collectively hold 12,241 nuclear warheads as of January 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The US and Russia account for nearly 90 percent of global nuclear weapons.

The nuclear issue remains a contentious topic between countries, with ongoing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.

Source: Al Jazeera