Pyongyang responds to G7's nuclear demands with threats to strengthen forces

On March 16, North Korea strongly rebuked the recent call from the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers, who urged Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

In response, North Korea threatened to further enhance its nuclear capabilities, both in "quality and quantity", Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media agency Yonhap.

The G7, in a joint statement issued on March 14 following a meeting in Charlevoix, Canada, had condemned North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile activities.

The foreign ministers also criticized Pyongyang's military assistance to Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

North Korea's foreign ministry swiftly denounced the G7’s stance, asserting that the international community was infringing upon its sovereign rights. The ministry argued that it was the G7, not North Korea, that was engaged in "illegal and malicious nuclear proliferation," particularly through actions like nuclear sharing and extended deterrence.

"G7, which has turned into a nuclear criminal group gravely threatening global peace and security, should thoroughly abandon its anachronistic ambition for nuclear hegemony before talking about someone's 'denuclearization' and 'dismantlement of nukes,'" the statement read.

North Korea further emphasized that its status as a nuclear state, enshrined in its constitution, will not change, regardless of whether the international community recognizes it. The North's foreign ministry reiterated that it would continue to strengthen its nuclear forces in both quality and quantity, in direct response to what it perceives as external nuclear threats. "We will steadily update and strengthen our nuclear-armed forces both in quality and quantity in response to the nuclear threat from outside as stipulated in its Constitution and other domestic laws," the ministry stated.

The G7's statement, which prompted North Korea’s reaction, included the following points:

1. Point 6 - A condemnation of North Korea’s provision of military assistance to Russia and Iran's involvement in supporting Russia’s war efforts, along with China’s role in supplying dual-use components to rebuild Russia's military 
2. Point 17 - A demand for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction, and ballistic missile programs in compliance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

By Tamilla Hasanova