Pyongyang: North Korea declared on Saturday that its nuclear arsenal is intended for combat purposes and not as a tool for negotiation, reinforcing its commitment to further enhancing its nuclear capabilities. This announcement comes in the wake of the White House's assertion under U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington will pursue the "complete denuclearization of North Korea," dismissing any speculation about a shift towards arms reduction.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea made its stance clear through a commentary by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), stating that its nuclear force is not a subject for negotiation but rather for combat readiness. This position indicates a disinterest in reengaging in denuclearization talks with the United States. The KCNA emphasized, "Our nuclear force is not something that can be advertised to earn recognition from anybody and not even a bargaining chip that can be exchanged for a mere sum of money."
The statement further elaborated on the role of North Korea's nuclear capabilities, declaring them essential for "real combat use" to swiftly counter any invasion attempts by hostile forces that threaten the nation's sovereignty and regional peace. North Korea also criticized remarks from NATO and the European Union, which refused to acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear power, labeling such statements as "ludicrous."
Speculation about President Trump's potential revival of summit diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been rife since Trump's return to the White House. During his previous term, Trump held three in-person meetings with Kim, including a historic summit in Singapore in 2018. However, the 2019 Hanoi summit concluded without an agreement due to differing views on denuclearization steps in exchange for sanctions relief.
In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump expressed his willingness to reengage with Kim, referring to him as a "smart guy." Despite this, North Korea has not responded to Trump's overtures and has instead publicized Kim's visit to a uranium enrichment facility, underscoring the necessity to bolster its "nuclear shield" against adversaries.
On Trump's first day back in office, he referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power," a term U.S. officials have generally avoided to prevent implying U.S. recognition of Pyongyang's nuclear status. Nonetheless, the White House reiterated last month that the U.S. remains committed to achieving the "complete denuclearization of North Korea."