“North Korea reiterated its claim that its status as a nuclear-armed state is ‘irreversibly enshrined’ in law and emphasized that it will thoroughly reject any attempts to change its current status.”
The North Korean mission in Vienna stated in a press release, “We will faithfully fulfill our obligations to the international community as a responsible nuclear-armed state.”
Vienna is the location of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and during a recent IAEA board meeting, the U.S. representative expressed that “the United States remains committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.”
In response, North Korea criticized the stance as a “grave political provocation,” condemning the U.S. for labeling its nuclear possession as ‘illegal’ and discussing ‘denuclearization.’ North Korea strongly condemned the U.S.’s provocative behavior and expressed serious concern about the negative consequences it may cause.