Kim's sister calls those demanding North Korea's nuclear disarmament "fools"

Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, described those demanding that her country abandon its nuclear arsenal as "fools" on Thursday, reiterating that there is "no turning back" on the issue of her country's possession of nuclear weapons.

In a statement carried by North Korea's Central News Agency, Kim Yo-jong wrote, "If they truly believe this is possible, it is because they only listen to the words of fools who are ignorant of the laws of the world."

She added that North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state is an "absolute and irreversible" position, noting that the country's nuclear arsenal "contributes significantly to deterring the shameful practices committed by rogues on the international stage, and to ensuring peace and security."

She pointed out that North Korea's status as a nuclear power, which was enshrined in its constitution in 2023, "cannot be changed in the slightest."

US President Donald Trump recently stated that Pyongyang possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons, while Seoul cites figures ranging between 80 and 120 weapons.

North Korea's nuclear arsenal has expanded since the collapse of the second summit between Kim and Trump in 2019, due to disagreements over what Pyongyang would receive in exchange for taking steps toward nuclear disarmament.