Sister of North Korean Leader: Nuclear Program is a Final, Irreversible Decision

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, described on Thursday those calling on her country to abandon its nuclear arsenal as “fools,” reiterating that there is “no turning back” on Pyongyang’s possession of nuclear weapons.

In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, she added, “If they truly believe this is possible, it is because they listen only to the words of fools who are ignorant of the laws of the world.”

She continued, “North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state is an absolute, irreversible reality,” noting that the country’s nuclear arsenal “significantly contributes to deterring the outrageous practices of renegades 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 has provided estimates ranging from 80 to 120 warheads.

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 denuclearization.