Kim Jong Un's Sister Condemns G7, Insists North Korea's Nuclear Programme Is Non-Negotiable

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has strongly condemned the denuclearisation calls made by the G7, the forum of advanced economies, calling them a violation of Pyongyang’s constitution and sovereignty. In a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yo Jong described denuclearisation as a “permanently established agenda” that will never be realised. She stressed that nuclear ownership is a core interest of North Korea and a red line that cannot be challenged. The sister of Kim added that anyone who tries to harm the core interests of a nuclear-armed state will make “the worst choice of inviting disaster”. Kim Yo Jong also said that North Korea’s nuclear weapons are a self-defence deterrent acquired in response to what she called constant nuclear threats from its enemies. She portrayed the nuclear arsenal as the “cornerstone” for ensuring peace. In her statement, the sister of Kim Jong Un argued that denuclearisation is “completely outdated” and will not change no matter how strongly any group criticises North Korea’s nuclear programme. The G7 leaders, in a joint statement released on Wednesday (17/6), expressed “deep concern” about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. They reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of Pyongyang in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. The G7 leaders also urged North Korea to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang and called for joint efforts to tackle cryptocurrency theft and cybercrime orchestrated by North Korea.