Kim Says North Korea Needs Nuclear Weapons
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the current global situation proves why his country must continue strengthening its nuclear arsenal, declaring that Pyongyang’s status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible. In a speech to the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim argued that recent international developments show nuclear deterrence remains the only reliable guarantee of sovereignty, survival and peace. His remarks further cement North Korea’s rejection of denuclearisation as a realistic policy path.
Kim Jong Un Says Nuclear Status Is Irreversible
Kim said North Korea would permanently strengthen its nuclear forces and continue building what he described as a self-defensive nuclear deterrent. He presented nuclear weapons as central to the country’s national security and made clear that Pyongyang would not trade away its arsenal for economic concessions or outside guarantees. The remarks reinforce North Korea’s long-standing position that its nuclear status is permanent.
North Korea Links Nuclear Weapons To Global Instability
Kim said the “current world reality” shows how sovereign states can have their rights and dignity violated by unilateral force and violence, using that argument to justify North Korea’s military posture. Analysts have noted that Pyongyang is using the broader international security climate, including ongoing major conflicts, to strengthen its case for nuclear deterrence. That framing allows North Korea to present its arsenal as a defensive necessity rather than a negotiable issue.
Nuclear Deterrence Framed As Support For Development
Kim also argued that nuclear weapons have deterred war and allowed the country to focus resources on economic growth, construction and living standards. He paired the nuclear message with wider policy priorities presented at the parliamentary session, linking military strength with domestic stability and development. The speech suggests Pyongyang will continue using both security and economic arguments to justify expansion of its deterrent.
