London – North Korean officials said Monday that the state of the country as a nuclear state “has become irreversible”, despite the efforts of the West to negotiate the end of the production of these weapons, according to state media.
“The position of the Democratic Popular Republic of Korea as a state of nuclear weapons that has been specified permanently in the supreme and basic law of the State has become irreversible,” said the permanent mission of North Korea to the UN in a press release, according to the Central News Agency of Korea.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the Intergovernmental Agency for Nuclear Cooperation, has no “legal and moral justification” to interfere with what North Korea considers an “internal issue,” said the press release of the mission.
This photo taken on September 9, 2025, and published by the official Korean news agency of North Korea shows the North Korean leader Kim Jong Uny attending the flag collection ceremony and a central oath rally.
Kcna through Kns/AFP through Getty Images
Monday’s statement coincided with the launch of Freedom Edge 25, a joint military exercise carried out by the United States, South Korea and Japan, in front of Jeju Island in South Korea. These exercises are scheduled to run until September 19.
Pak Jong Chon of North Korea, vice president of the Central Military Commission, said Sunday that these drills “represent a serious challenge for the security interests of our State and a great danger of undermining regional stability and intentional military tension,” according to state media.
The secret state accused the United States on Monday of violating its own declared obligation to prevent nuclear proliferation “while concentrating more than anyone in the accumulation of nuclear energy.”
“The United States has reached the extremes in its nuclear threat as the days and the nuclear alliance led by the United States are being desperate in their confrontation movements,” North Korean officials said on Monday.
This photo taken on September 9, 2025 and published by the official Korean news agency of North Korea through KNS on September 10, 2025 shows the North Korean leader Kim Jong Uny attending the flag collection ceremony.
Kcna through Kns/AFP through Getty Images
The general director of the OIEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, told North Korea nuclear development programs this month as “clear violations” of the resolutions of the UN Security Council.
He said that his agency, however, “continues to maintain its best preparation to play its essential role in the verification of the RPDC nuclear program.”
ABC News’ Will Gretsky contributed to this report.
