North Korea will never give up nuclear weapons, Kim’s sister declares

North Korea will never give up its nuclear weapons and will continue to expand its nuclear force, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the country's supreme leader Kim Jong Un, has made it clear. She made the announcement in a statement just before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea on Monday (June 8).

Ahead of the historic summit between the two countries, Kim Yo Jong made it clear that North Korea will not tolerate any threats and described US efforts to denuclearize Pyongyang as an "outdated dream", according to North Korea's state news agency KCNA.

Kim Yo Jong, who holds two key positions in Kim Jong Un's government, rejected the US claim as "complete lies". The US had previously claimed that Beijing and Washington had agreed to denuclearize North Korea during a summit between Trump and Xi Jinping in May.

In this context, Kim Yo Jong said that the US claim is untrue and that they have the most accurate information on this matter. She reiterated that the policy of continuously strengthening the self-defense nuclear warhead capability as announced by the head of state is a final and irrevocable decision, which will be implemented without any conditions. She also commented that some US officials have not yet been able to wake up from unrealistic and outdated dreams.

Kim Yo Jong's warning came at a time when North Korea recently brought to public view a new nuclear material production plant. During an inspection there, Kim Jong Un ordered the country's nuclear weapons stockpile to be increased "geometrically."

According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, Kim Jong Un inspected a major ammunition factory and ordered the country's missile production capacity to be increased two and a half times over the next five years.

Analysts say North Korea is showing off its new uranium enrichment facility to bolster its negotiating position ahead of an upcoming summit with Beijing and to justify further accelerating its nuclear program.

North Korea has been focusing on expanding its nuclear capabilities since diplomatic talks with the United States collapsed in 2019. Experts believe Kim Jong Un wants to be recognized internationally as a nuclear state so he can demand the lifting of international economic sanctions on the country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit to North Korea in nearly seven years is seen as a major effort to strengthen strategic ties between Beijing and Pyongyang, which is China's only formal treaty ally. Kim Jong-un is often seen alongside his sister Kim Yo-jong and his teenage daughter Kim Ju-a, who is believed to be being groomed as Kim's successor, at military parades and meetings with foreign leaders.

Source: Sky News.