North Korea: We will never join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - North Korea's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Kim Song, said today (Thursday, May 7) in a sharp and explicit statement that Pyongyang "in no and under any circumstances" under any circumstances (NPT) will not adhere, and the situation of this country as a nuclear-powered state is "important". The statement, issued by the official North Korean news agency (KCNA), was issued amid the 11th NPT revision conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York; A conference in which the United States and a number of allied countries have strongly criticized Pyongyang's nuclear program. "At the 11th UNCO REVISION Conference currently underway at the UN headquarters, the United States and certain countries following it are questioning the current situation and the exercise of our sovereign rights," Kim Sung said, referring to the criticism of the conference. "The situation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as a nuclear-armed state will not change based on foreign verbal claims or unilateral demands," he added. "In order to make it clear again, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will, under no circumstances, adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty," the North Korean representative said. He also stated that the country's nuclear situation is "explicitly recorded in the [North Korean Constitution] and clearly states the principles of the use of nuclear weapons." North Korea withdrew from the NPT in 2003 and has since conducted six nuclear tests, leading to several rounds of sanctions by the UN Security Council against the country. According to international estimates, Pyongyang now has dozens of nuclear warheads and has always stressed that it considers its nuclear path "irreversible" and will strengthen its capabilities. The United States and its allies insist that North Korea is still a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is the only regime in the region that, despite having a nuclear arsenal, refuses to join the treaty and the United States does not force it to respond.