Is North Korea's Status as a Nuclear Weapons State 'Permanently' Fixed?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- North Korea asserts permanent nuclear status.
- Criticism of US claims on denuclearization.
- Advancements in missile technology continue.
- International tensions are escalating.
- Implications for global security are profound.
Seoul, Sep 15 (NationPress) North Korea asserted on Monday that its designation as a nuclear weapons state has been "permanently" enshrined in the nation's legislation, while it criticized the United States for reiterating its "outdated" claims regarding Pyongyang's denuclearization during an international forum.
The North's permanent mission to the UN office and international organizations in Vienna issued a press release condemning the US for addressing the North's nuclear weapons program at a recent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"We vehemently denounce and reject the US's provocative actions, which once again expose its unchanging hostile intentions towards the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ... and we express grave concern over the negative repercussions that may arise from this," the statement, carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), declared.
North Korea pointed out that while Washington has criticized the North's nuclear arsenal as "illegal," it is the US that undermines the global nuclear non-proliferation framework through its extensive nuclear arms buildup.
"The position of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as a nuclear weapons state, which has been definitively established in the supreme and fundamental law of the state, is now irreversible," the North stated, adding that it will "continue to thoroughly oppose and reject any attempts to alter its current stance."
This statement emerged as North Korea continues to enhance its nuclear and armaments programs, disregarding offers for dialogue from both the United States and South Korea, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a research facility that developed a high-thrust solid-fuel engine, where he indicated that the new engine will be utilized for the forthcoming Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile currently in development.