PYONGYANG: North Korea has criticized the recent NATO summit, arguing that any global effort toward nuclear disarmament should begin with U.S. allies that participate in NATO’s nuclear-sharing arrangements.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing the United States and its allies of pursuing policies that continue to expand their military capabilities and weapons stockpiles.
The ministry said the outcome of the latest NATO summit demonstrated, in its view, that the alliance is focused on military confrontation and conflict rather than promoting peace and stability.
In the statement, Pyongyang also asserted that attempts by Western countries to pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear weapons program have failed.
Instead, the ministry argued that if there is to be any genuine effort toward nuclear disarmament, it should begin with NATO member states involved in nuclear-sharing arrangements, referring to countries that host or participate in the alliance’s nuclear deterrence framework.
The remarks come a day after North Korean state media reported that the country had decided to further strengthen its nuclear capabilities.
According to those reports, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has continued to emphasize the modernization of the country’s armed forces, calling for enhanced military readiness and the development of advanced defense capabilities.
The Foreign Ministry added that North Korea would continue to exercise what it described as its sovereign rights in a responsible manner to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, national security, and regional stability.
North Korea has long maintained that its nuclear weapons program is necessary for deterrence and self-defense, while the United States, South Korea, Japan, and many other countries continue to call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The latest statement reflects Pyongyang’s longstanding opposition to NATO and its criticism of U.S.-led security alliances, amid continuing tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
The comments are likely to add to ongoing diplomatic friction surrounding regional security and global nuclear non-proliferation efforts. North Korea remains subject to multiple United Nations sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, while negotiations aimed at denuclearization have remained stalled in recent years.
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