Particle.news
Download on the App Store
10 ARTICLES
·
1h ago

North Korea Tells U.N. It Will Never Disarm as Kim Moves to Expand Nuclear Production

A rare high-level address signaled conditional openness to talks only if Pyongyang keeps its arsenal.

Image
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs for North Korea Kim Son Gyong addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
A North Korean flag flutters at the propaganda village of Gijungdong in North Korea, in this picture taken near the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/File Photo
Image

Overview

  • Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong told the General Assembly that nuclear arms are enshrined in North Korea’s constitution and will not be surrendered under any circumstances.
  • This was the first appearance by a senior North Korean official at the U.N. gathering since 2018, marking a notable elevation in Pyongyang’s public diplomacy.
  • Kim Jong Un was briefed on plans to expand nuclear production capacity and praised the country’s growing nuclear forces, according to state media.
  • Independent estimates put the stockpile at roughly 50 warheads, with material output sufficient for about 15–20 additional warheads annually, as U.N. sanctions remain in place.
  • Pyongyang criticized th K-South Korea-Japan exercises as a threat, while Washington maintains denuclearization goals and President Donald Trump has expressed willingness to resume talks and plans to visit South Korea next month for APEC.