North Korea Says Its Nuclear-State Status Will Remain 'Irreversible'

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has said her country's status as a nuclear-armed state will remain irreversible, according to remarks cited by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and reported by Russia's TASS news agency.

Choe's comments came in response to the outcome of a trilateral meeting held between the top diplomats of the United States, Japan and South Korea, though TASS's report did not detail the full content of Choe's remarks or the specific proposals or statements made at the trilateral meeting that prompted her response.

North Korea has for years asserted that its nuclear weapons program is a permanent and non-negotiable element of its national security policy, rejecting past calls from Washington, Seoul and Tokyo for denuclearization talks. Pyongyang has enshrined its nuclear status in domestic law and routinely reaffirms the position in response to joint statements or coordinated diplomatic activity among the three US-aligned countries.

Trilateral meetings between the United States, Japan and South Korea have become a regular feature of diplomacy in the region, often focused on coordinating responses to North Korea's weapons programs as well as broader security cooperation. North Korea has consistently characterized such coordination as a hostile threat to its security, using it to justify the continued development of its nuclear and missile capabilities.

KCNA's report, as cited by TASS, did not indicate whether Choe's statement was accompanied by any new policy announcements or activities related to North Korea's nuclear or missile programs.