Kim Jong-un’s sister says North Korea’s nuclear status is permanent

North Korea’s position as a nuclear weapons state cannot be reversed, no matter how much the United States and its Asian partners demand it, according to a statement by the sister of North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong-un, reported by state media on Wednesday. The remarks were likely a reply to a joint statement made by the foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan, and the United States during a Nato meeting last week. The three ministers repeated their "commitment to the complete denuclearization" of North Korea, according to the statement. North Korea’s nuclear weapons status, along with its "substantial and very strong nuclear deterrent," is a result of outside threats and "it does not change no matter how desperately anyone denies," said Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, according to North Korea's KCNA news agency. She noted that North Korea’s plans to grow its nuclear weapons are written into its constitution, and said that any outside talks about denuclearization are "the most hostile act" and amount to denying the country’s sovereignty. "If the US and its vassal forces continue to insist on anachronistic denuclearization’ … it will only give unlimited justness and justification to the advance of the DPRK aspiring after the building of the strongest nuclear force for self-defense," she said, using the initials for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. She added that North Korea’s nuclear weapons status can "never be reversed by any physical strength or sly artifice." "We don’t care about anyone’s denial and recognition and we never change our option," she said. "This is our steadfast choice that can never be reversed by any physical strength or sly artifice." Tensions in the region have grown as Kim Jong Un continues to show his nuclear capabilities and strengthens ties with Russia during President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. Kim has not responded to calls from Seoul and Washington to restart denuclearization talks. North Korea has continued to pursue nuclear weapons, despite United Nations Security Council sanctions since it first carried out an underground nuclear test in 2006. It is believed North Korea now has a stockpile of nuclear weapons, although it has not carried out an atmospheric test. The United States and its Asian partners have long called for the complete removal of North Korea’s nuclear program, but analysts believe Pyongyang has moved past the point of accepting such a deal. US President Donald Trump has referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power" and said he is open to meeting Kim Jong Un again. During his first term, the two leaders met in several summits to try to reduce tensions. Kim is now focused on strengthening ties with Russia. North Korea has provided weapons and troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. Officials in Seoul are concerned that in return, Kim may receive economic help and advanced technology to improve North Korea’s military capabilities.