A spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said US and South Korean efforts to strengthen nuclear cooperation against Pyongyang would not change the country’s status as a nuclear weapons state.

“The ‘denuclearization’ is an irreversibly finalized matter,” the statement carried by state media KCNA said.

The remarks came after US and South Korean officials held talks in Seoul under the Nuclear Consultative Group, where they discussed strengthening nuclear deterrence and military readiness in response to North Korea’s expanding weapons program.

Washington and Seoul have repeatedly called for the dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, while Pyongyang has insisted that its nuclear capabilities are necessary for national security.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have continued to rise as North Korea expands missile testing and deepens military cooperation with Russia.

The statement issued Wednesday during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Brussels described what it called “illegal military cooperation” between North Korea and Russia and urged third parties to stop supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

North Korea’s foreign ministry rejected the criticism, saying its cooperation with Russia constituted an “exercise of sovereign rights” and accusing Seoul and Brussels of issuing a “grave hostile act,” according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The EU–South Korea statement said: “We condemn support by third parties, in particular the DPRK, which enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Pyongyang separately reiterated its long-standing position that South Korea is its primary “enemy state” and accused Seoul of acting in line with Washington’s security strategy in the region.

The North Korean response also referenced recent remarks by a senior US military official in South Korea, which Pyongyang and Beijing previously criticized as reflecting US containment policy in Asia.

North Korea has deepened its alignment with Russia during the Ukraine conflict, including reports of weapons transfers and troop deployments, according to Western and South Korean intelligence assessments.

Kim Jong Un has expanded cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years, while also strengthening diplomatic engagement with China amid shifting regional alliances.

Xi’s two-day trip to Pyongyang, his first in seven years, underscored efforts by Beijing and Pyongyang to revitalize a traditional alliance that has faced new challenges amid North Korea’s growing ties with Russia and shifting regional geopolitical dynamics.

During a summit on Monday, Xi expressed China’s willingness to expand cooperation in areas including trade, agriculture, construction and technology, according to Chinese and North Korean state media. Kim, in turn, described maintaining ties with China as a top strategic priority for his government.

The visit included a series of highly symbolic events aimed at highlighting historical bonds between the two neighbors. Xi and Kim visited a monument commemorating Chinese soldiers who fought alongside North Korean forces during the 1950-53 Korean War and emphasized the importance of preserving the legacy of bilateral cooperation and resistance against foreign pressure.

The two leaders also toured a Workers’ Party training institution and participated in a tree-planting ceremony intended to symbolize the long-term development of relations between their countries.

The summit came less than a year after Xi and Kim met in Beijing and reflected a broader effort by both governments to maintain strategic coordination amid growing uncertainty in Northeast Asia.

State media reports emphasized commitments to expand economic and political cooperation and highlighted North Korea’s support for China’s position on Taiwan under Beijing’s “one-China” policy.

Notably absent from official accounts of the talks was any public discussion of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, a longstanding source of regional tension and a central issue in international diplomacy involving Pyongyang.

The omission has drawn attention among regional analysts. Some experts view the absence of references to denuclearization as a diplomatic advantage for North Korea, which has increasingly sought recognition as a nuclear-armed state while pressing for sanctions relief and greater international acceptance.

Ban Kil Joo, an assistant professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul, said the lack of discussion about denuclearization could be interpreted as China leaving room for broader acceptance of North Korea’s current strategic status rather than actively challenging it.

Analysts also see the visit as part of China’s effort to restore its influence over North Korea after Pyongyang deepened military and political cooperation with Russia in recent years. North Korea has strengthened ties with Moscow through support for Russian military efforts and expanded strategic cooperation, raising questions about Beijing’s traditional role as Pyongyang’s primary external partner.

Kim Gyubeom, an analyst at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul, said China appears to be pursuing a pragmatic approach that maintains communication and influence without applying significant pressure on North Korea, while prioritizing regional stability.

For Beijing, stronger ties with Pyongyang may also provide additional diplomatic leverage in its broader relationship with the United States. Analysts note that renewed Chinese influence over North Korea could become a factor in future dealings between Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly indicated interest in restarting diplomacy with Kim.

The visit highlighted a convergence of interests between Beijing and Pyongyang as both governments navigate an increasingly complex regional environment marked by strategic competition, security concerns and shifting alliances across East Asia.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, rejected Washington’s longstanding objective of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and said North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state could not be altered by what she described as unilateral U.S. rhetoric.

Her comments came one day before Xi is scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang for talks with Kim Jong Un, marking the Chinese leader’s first visit to North Korea since 2019 and highlighting Beijing’s efforts to reinforce ties with its isolated neighbor amid shifting regional dynamics.

“The U.S. assertion to backbite the status of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state has no legally binding force,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name. She also dismissed as “false information” a recent U.S. announcement that President Donald Trump and Xi had reaffirmed a shared commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization during a summit in Beijing last month.

The remarks underscore Pyongyang’s increasingly entrenched position on nuclear weapons since negotiations between Kim Jong Un and Trump collapsed in 2019 without an agreement on sanctions relief and disarmament measures.

Since then, North Korea has accelerated efforts to strengthen its nuclear and missile capabilities. During a visit last week to a newly established nuclear materials production facility, Kim Jong Un said the country would expand its nuclear forces at an “exponential rate.” State media reported Sunday that he also visited a weapons factory a day earlier and ordered a 2.5-fold increase in missile production capacity under the current five-year development plan.

Kim Yo Jong accused the United States and South Korea of pursuing continuous military buildups, arguing that North Korea’s policy of strengthening its nuclear deterrent was a defensive necessity and an irreversible strategic decision.

Security analysts say Xi’s visit is expected to focus on restoring China’s influence over North Korea at a time when Pyongyang has deepened its political and military cooperation with Russia. Observers expect Beijing to prioritize economic cooperation and regional stability while avoiding direct pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea has emerged as a significant supporter of Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, supplying troops and conventional weapons, according to U.S. and South Korean officials. In return, Pyongyang is believed to have received economic support and other forms of assistance from Moscow, further strengthening ties between the two countries.

The latest exchange highlights the growing gap between Washington’s denuclearization objectives and Pyongyang’s declared intention to expand its strategic weapons capabilities, a divide that continues to complicate diplomatic efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

China and North Korea announced on Friday that Xi will make a state visit from Monday to Tuesday, where he is expected to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The visit comes as North Korea deepens military and political cooperation with Russia and a day after Pyongyang unveiled a new facility that South Korea’s military assessed as a uranium enrichment plant.Analysts say Beijing is seeking to reinforce its influence in North Korea as Kim expands ties with Moscow while continuing to advance his nuclear weapons program.

Xi and Kim last met in Beijing in September, where they pledged closer cooperation. China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and key economic supporter despite international sanctions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile activities.

The trip will be Xi’s first visit to North Korea in nearly seven years and highlights the strategic importance both countries place on maintaining close ties amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in Northeast Asia.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired from Jongju, a city on North Korea’s west coast, and traveled toward the sea. The military did not immediately disclose the number of missiles launched or their flight distances.

Seoul said it had strengthened its surveillance and readiness posture following the launches and was closely coordinating with the United States and Japan on intelligence assessments and monitoring activities.
The test was North Korea’s first known missile launch since April 19, when Pyongyang fired multiple short-range missiles that state media described as part of an exercise involving cluster-bomb warheads.

The latest launch extends a pattern of weapons testing that has intensified as North Korea advances its military modernization programs.
Kim has prioritized the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and missile forces since negotiations with then-U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019 without an agreement on sanctions relief and denuclearization.

Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in reviving direct engagement with Kim. However, North Korea has largely ignored those overtures and has maintained that Washington must abandon demands for unilateral nuclear disarmament before meaningful negotiations can resume.

Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have also deteriorated sharply. Kim has increasingly characterized South Korea as North Korea’s principal adversary and has moved to sever longstanding channels of inter-Korean cooperation and dialogue.

The missile launches came hours after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for accelerated efforts to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities during a Cabinet meeting. Lee highlighted the importance of investing in artificial intelligence-driven military systems, expanding drone capabilities and examining the potential acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine.

While Lee did not directly address Tuesday’s missile launches, he emphasized the need for South Korea to demonstrate its ability to safeguard its own security interests. He said a stronger national defense posture would reinforce the country’s alliance with the United States.

The latest test is likely to draw renewed scrutiny from regional security partners as tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain elevated and diplomatic engagement between North Korea and its neighbors shows little sign of revival.

The discussions took place during recent meetings of the bilateral Integrated Defense Dialogue in Washington, according to a South Korean defense ministry spokesperson, who said talks had made “progress” but denied reports suggesting the move would create joint or divided control of the Demilitarized Zone.

“It is not joint management. Nor is it divided management,” the spokesperson told reporters. “It is making DMZ management in some sections more realistic.”

The Demilitarized Zone, established under the 1953 armistice that halted the Korean War, remains one of the world’s most heavily armed borders. The conflict ended without a formal peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war.

The United Nations Command, led by the United States, oversees the DMZ under the terms of the armistice agreement. Seoul said consultations with Washington were focused on technical and operational arrangements in certain sections of the border while respecting the authority of the UN Command.

The talks come amid renewed debate in South Korea over wartime operational control of allied forces. President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to seek the transfer of wartime command authority from Washington to Seoul during his presidency, which runs through 2030.

Under the current framework, the United States would command combined South Korean and U.S. forces in the event of war on the peninsula. Successive governments in Seoul, however, have sought greater military autonomy while maintaining the bilateral alliance.

The discussions also coincide with a broader recalibration in South Korea’s policy language toward North Korea. In its 2026 white paper, Seoul’s Unification Ministry described the two Koreas as effectively existing as separate states while reaffirming the long-term goal of reunification.

The shift reflects evolving security dynamics on the peninsula as North Korea continues expanding its missile and nuclear programs amid stalled diplomatic engagement with Washington and Seoul.

Prosecutors said in a statement that the new sentence was being pursued on charges of aiding the enemy, arguing that Yoon’s alleged actions were intended to “fabricate wartime conditions” and undermined national security.

The request comes after Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment in February for leading what authorities described as an insurrection aimed at paralysing South Korea’s National Assembly.According to prosecutors, the drone operation heightened tensions with North Korea and led to the exposure of classified military information after the drones crashed, including details related to force capabilities.

The allegations were also reported by Yonhap news agency.Yoon has appealed his earlier conviction, maintaining that his decision to declare martial law was taken “solely for the sake of the nation.”The case adds to ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, where the two Koreas remain technically at war.

Drone activity has been a recurring source of friction between the sides.Earlier this month, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret to Pyongyang following an investigation that found government officials had sent drones into North Korea in January.

In response, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un described the statement as “wise behavior,” though prospects for improved relations diminished after North Korea resumed describing the South as its “most hostile” adversary.

Lee has pledged to repair inter-Korean relations by halting provocations associated with his predecessor and has indicated that a formal apology over the drone incidents may be considered.

Wang, on a two-day visit to the diplomatically isolated state his first since 2019 said the two countries should enhance communication on major international and regional issues while safeguarding their respective sovereignty and security interests, according to Chinese state media.

“China is willing to work with North Korea to maintain close communication and interaction, promote practical cooperation, and infuse new contemporary meaning into the traditional friendship,” Wang said, as reported by Xinhua.

The visit follows the resumption of transport links between the neighbors after pandemic-related disruptions, signaling a broader effort to restore economic and diplomatic engagement. China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and a crucial source of economic and political support.

Wang’s trip comes amid renewed efforts by Donald Trump’s administration to revive high-level talks with Pyongyang, with discussions potentially leading to a summit later this year, including during a possible Trump visit to Beijing in May.

The meeting underscores Beijing’s continued role in shaping regional dynamics on the Korean Peninsula at a time of heightened diplomatic activity involving major powers.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was analyzing the latest launch in coordination with U.S. authorities. A separate launch detected on Tuesday from the Pyongyang area is believed to have involved a ballistic missile, though officials said it may have failed shortly after takeoff.

Yonhap news agency, citing military officials, reported that Tuesday’s projectile flew eastward before showing signs of abnormality in the early stage of flight and disappearing. South Korean authorities are assessing whether the launch constituted a failed ballistic missile test.

Seoul typically confirms ballistic missile launches promptly as they violate United Nations Security Council resolutions, while taking a more cautious approach when projectiles may be cruise missiles or conventional weapons.

North Korea has consistently rejected UN restrictions on its weapons programs, arguing they infringe on its sovereign right to self-defense.

The launches come amid renewed tensions following statements from North Korean officials indicating no shift in their stance toward South Korea. Jang Kum Chol, a senior foreign ministry official, said Pyongyang continues to view Seoul as a hostile adversary despite recent diplomatic signals.

“The identity of the ROK, the enemy state most hostile to the DPRK, can never change with any words or conduct,” Jang was quoted as saying by state media KCNA, using the formal acronyms for South and North Korea.

His remarks followed earlier comments from Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which some in Seoul had interpreted as conciliatory after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone incursions earlier this year.

Jang said those remarks were intended as a warning rather than a gesture of goodwill, underscoring Pyongyang’s continued hardline posture.
The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war, as the 1950–1953 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.