North Korea declares nuclear program non-negotiable ahead of Xi visit

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, declared that the country's status as a nuclear power is "absolutely non-negotiable." The statement was published by North Korea's official newspaper Rodong Sinmun on Sunday, June 16, 2019. She added that the North "will not tolerate any threats." Kim Yo Jong is a key figure in North Korea's communications and foreign policy.

The statement came on the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, according to state media. Xi's trip to Pyongyang will be his first in seven years. It follows his back-to-back summits with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.

Beijing is a vital source of political and economic support for North Korea. The timing of Kim Yo Jong's remarks underscores the North's firm stance on its nuclear program ahead of high-level diplomatic engagements. According to Mehr News, the statement reaffirms North Korea's position that its nuclear capabilities are not up for negotiation.