North Korean official says nuclear status is "irreversible"

A senior North Korean official, Kim Yo Jong, said that her country’s nuclear status is irreversible, according to a report by the Russian news agency TASS.

Kim, who holds a prominent position in North Korea’s political leadership, said that demands for denuclearization will have no effect on Pyongyang’s plans to defend what she described as its national interests, TASS reported.

The statement, as relayed by TASS, did not elaborate on specific policies or programs beyond the assertion regarding the permanence of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

TASS did not provide additional details in the excerpt regarding the context in which the remarks were made or any response from other governments.

Reuters and other international outlets have previously reported on North Korea’s continued development of nuclear and missile programs despite international sanctions and diplomatic efforts aimed at denuclearization.