Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea's leader, rejects ASEAN's nuclear disarmament invitation

In a statement reported by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo-jong criticized a joint statement issued on Saturday following the annual meeting of foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, which reaffirmed their commitment to the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, the ASEAN Regional Forum’s statement called for international efforts toward the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner.”

Kim stated in the statement: “North Korea’s position is resolute and clear that nuclear deterrence is the ultimate shield of national sovereignty and the highest guarantee for defending sovereignty.”

She added: “Regardless of what others say, North Korea’s status and importance as a responsible nuclear-armed state that maintains the balance of power and ensures geopolitical security on and around the Korean Peninsula is final and irreversible.”

The ASEAN Regional Forum is the only multilateral regional security forum that includes both South and North Korea. However, Pyongyang was absent from this year’s meeting, marking its second consecutive absence, amid widespread belief that it is continuing to focus on strengthening ties with Russia and China.

Kim made similar remarks in June, describing North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state as “absolutely irreversible” and “a point of no return,” vowing not to tolerate any threats against it.