NK leader's sister says Pyongyang's nuclear status 'irreversible'

Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, attends a wreath-laying ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam, March 2, 2019. AP-Yonhap

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Sunday that the country's nuclear status is "absolutely irreversible" and vowed not to tolerate any threats against it, according to state media.

Kim Yo-jong made the remarks in a statement carried by the Korea Central News Agency, reiterating Pyongyang's position that its nuclear weapons program is nonnegotiable, rejecting international efforts aimed at denuclearization.

"Our status as a nuclear weapons state is an absolutely irreversible red line and an undeniable reality whether anyone recognizes it or not," she said.

Her remarks came a day ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Pyongyang, apparently aimed at underscoring that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program is not subject to discussions between Xi and Kim Jong-un.

On Friday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said that U.S. President Donald Trump Xi reaffirmed their shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea during their summit in Beijing last month, as Xi is set to travel to Pyongyang.

Kim Yo-jong, who serves as a department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, dismissed the U.S. official's comments, accusing Washington of "spreading lies."

She also suggested Pyongyang had received a direct explanation from Beijing regarding the discussions between Trump and Xi. "We have the most accurate information regarding whether such a thing occurred," she said.

The statement also reiterated North Korea's justification for continuing to strengthen its military capabilities, citing what it called persistent military threats from hostile countries, including Washington's recent approval of a potential sale of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision bombs and related equipment to South Korea.

"This is why we are devoted to strengthening our self-defense capabilities to guarantee the security of the state in the face of hostile countries' continuous military buildup," Kim said.