North Korea has firmly rejected a fresh call from a major Asian security group to give up its nuclear weapons. North Korea called the request a “foolish attempt” and made it clear that it has no intention of giving up its nuclear weapons program despite increasing international pressure.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, shared this strong response through the national Korean Central News Agency. She holds a senior role in the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and often speaks for the government on major issues.
Kim said North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state is now “final and irreversible.” She made clear that her country will not change its position, no matter how much pressure other nations apply.
This dispute started after a big meeting in Manila(Capital of the Philippines). Foreign ministers from different countries gathered there for the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum, a security group that includes ASEAN member nations along with partners such as the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea.
The Philippines hosted this year’s ASEAN meetings as the bloc’s current chair under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.” The gathering brought together foreign ministers from all ten ASEAN member states, along with major international partners, to discuss regional trade, security cooperation, and growing concerns over North Korea’s nuclear program.
At the end of the meetings, the forum’s leaders issued a joint statement once again calling for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This is the second year in a row that the group has repeated its call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. It also raised serious concerns about North Korea’s continued work on nuclear weapons and missile programs.
Kim Yo Jong strongly opposed the statement, criticizing the forum for what she described as an unfriendly approach toward North Korea. According to Kim, the forum had simply supported the United States’ position instead of recognizing North Korea’s constitution, which officially identifies the country as a nuclear-armed state.
She said any attempt by the United States and its allies to change North Korea’s nuclear status is “nothing but a foolish attempt.” She also said the whole idea of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula does not makes any sense.
Kim called ongoing calls for denuclearization a “stupid and foolish wild dream” and pointed out that the forum should instead focus on its true purpose of promoting peace and security across the region.
She described nuclear weapons as the country’s “ultimate shield” for protecting its sovereignty and said North Korea would continue to strengthen its nuclear capabilities without any pause or slowdown.
This latest exchange highlights a long-running dispute that repeats almost every year. ASEAN and its member countries have repeatedly called for peace talks and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, while North Korea has continued expanding its nuclear weapons program and rejecting international pressure. Meanwhile, South Korea, the United States, Japan, and several other countries have repeatedly expressed their willingness to resume discussions with Pyongyang.
For now, both sides remain far from reaching an agreement. North Korea shows no sign of slowing down its nuclear program, while regional powers continue calling for a peaceful, nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through diplomatic statements and international meetings. Diplomats say they will keep raising the issue at future ASEAN meetings.
