North Korea condemns G7 call for denuclearisation

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader ​Kim Jong Un, condemned a G7 call for ‌the country's denuclearisation as a violation of its constitution and an infringement of sovereignty, state media KCNA said on Thursday.

Kim said denuclearisation was ​an "irreversibly finalised agenda" that could never be realised, and ​that nuclear possession was North Korea’s core interest and ⁠an irreversible line, the statement carried by KCNA said.

"Denuclearisation ​is the line of no retreat that can never be ​crossed," Kim was quoted as saying, adding that anyone who tried to hurt the core interests of a nuclear weapons state would be ​making "the worst option of inviting disaster."

Kim also said North ​Korea’s nuclear weapons were a self-defensive deterrent acquired in response to what ‌she ⁠called persistent nuclear threats from its enemies, and described them as a "cornerstone" for ensuring peace.

She said arguments calling for denuclearisation were "completely out of date" and would not change no matter ​how loudly ​any group criticised ⁠North Korea’s nuclear programme.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday after their summit, G7 leaders expressed "deep ​concern" about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic ​missile programmes ⁠and reaffirmed their commitment to the country’s complete denuclearisation in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The leaders also urged North ⁠Korea ​to resolve the issue of Japanese ​citizens abducted by Pyongyang and called for joint efforts to address North Korea’s ​cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrimes.

-Reuters