North Korea Rejects U.S.-Led Denuclearization Efforts, Vows to Expand Nuclear Arsenal

Pyongyang criticizes U.S., South Korea, and Japan's joint pledge on denuclearization, reaffirming its commitment to bolstering nuclear capabilities under Kim Jong Un's leadership.

• North Korea's Foreign Ministry denounced the U.S. and its allies' push for denuclearization as 'outdated' and 'absurd,' pledging to continue strengthening its nuclear forces.
• The statement followed a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya at the Munich Security Conference, where they reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea's complete denuclearization.
• Pyongyang emphasized that its nuclear arsenal is a constitutional means of self-defense against perceived threats from the U.S. and its allies.
• North Korea has intensified its nuclear development since declaring itself a nuclear weapons state in 2022, with Kim Jong Un enshrining the buildup of nuclear forces into the country's constitution.
• South Korea unveiled a new precision-strike missile system designed to counter North Korea's long-range artillery, as regional tensions continue to escalate.

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