North Korea closes the door to any denuclearization and criticizes Washington and Seoul

North Korea asserted on Sunday that the issue of its denuclearization was definitively settled, rejecting any possibility of relinquishing its nuclear arsenal despite diplomatic efforts and strategic discussions between the United States and South Korea.

In a statement published by the official KCNA news agency, the North Korean Foreign Ministry denounced recent exchanges between Washington and Seoul on strengthening their nuclear cooperation, asserting that these initiatives would not change Pyongyang's position in any way.

According to the ministry spokesperson, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains an "irreversibly" nuclear-armed state. He also accused the United States and its allies of pursuing a hostile policy aimed at increasing military pressure on the country.

This statement comes a few days after a meeting in Seoul of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a cooperation mechanism between the United States and South Korea intended to strengthen deterrence in the face of the rise in North Korean military capabilities.

US and South Korean officials discussed measures to improve their preparedness in the face of Pyongyang's evolving nuclear and ballistic missile programs. These consultations are part of enhanced military cooperation between the two allies.

North Korea regularly views these initiatives as preparations for war and uses them to justify the continuation of its weapons programs. Under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, the country has increased its missile tests in recent years and enshrined its status as a nuclear state in its official doctrine.

Negotiations on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula have been stalled since talks between Washington and Pyongyang broke down several years ago. North Korea's latest statement confirms the growing divide between the positions of the various parties and further diminishes the prospects for dialogue on abandoning the country's nuclear program.

In a regional context marked by an intensification of military exercises and growing strategic rivalry in East Asia, this stance by Pyongyang risks further fueling tensions on the Korean Peninsula.