North Korea Vows Continuous Modernization of Nuclear Weapons Capabilities

North Korean authorities announced on Monday that they will steadily modernize their nuclear weapons capabilities without any pause. The statement was made in response to calls from Southeast Asian foreign ministers for complete nuclear disarmament, which Pyongyang dismissed as another expression of hostility toward a responsible nuclear state.

The remarks were conveyed by Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who frequently speaks on behalf of her brother and the state in international matters, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency.

Kim Yo Jong emphasized, "Our position is firm and clear: nuclear deterrent forces are a reliable shield for state sovereignty and the best guarantee of protection. The nuclear capability of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will be continuously modernized without the slightest interruption."

She further stated that this protection remains essential amid a crisis created by hostile forces in the region, according to her wording.