Pyongyang calls nuclear weapons “absolute guarantee” of sovereignty

North Korea said on August 31 that the United States’ hostile policy toward Pyongyang remained unchanged, stressing that its nuclear weapons serve as an absolute guarantee of its sovereignty and would continue to be strengthened, according to a statement from the country’s Foreign Ministry.

The statement also added that expectations for any easing of regional tensions were “meaningless” and that Pyongyang’s policy toward Washington had not changed at all, Reuters reports, citing North Korean state media.

North Korea’s latest statement comes against the backdrop of longstanding tensions with the United States over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs. The country has increasingly rejected the idea of giving up its nuclear arsenal, instead describing nuclear weapons as essential to protecting its sovereignty and ensuring the survival of the state. 

Pyongyang has repeatedly argued that the US military presence in South Korea, joint US-South Korean military exercises and Washington’s security commitments to Seoul constitute a threat to North Korea.

Tensions have remained high despite periodic efforts to revive diplomacy. North Korea has continued developing and expanding its nuclear and missile capabilities, while the United States and South Korea have maintained close military cooperation and joint deterrence measures. 

Pyongyang has also adopted a more assertive nuclear doctrine, under which it reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in a broader range of circumstances, including in response to perceived threats to its leadership or nuclear command structure

By Jeyhun Aghazada