North Korea Says It Is Not Bound by Any Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
Axios (Tổng hợp từ Al Jazeera English)
North Korea’s ambassador to the UN declared that Pyongyang will not be bound by any nuclear nonproliferation treaty, rejecting external pressure to change its nuclear-weapon state status. The statement came during the 11th NPT Review Conference, where the US and allies have criticized North Korea’s nuclear program. The country, which withdrew from the NPT in 2003, has conducted six nuclear tests and is believed to hold dozens of warheads.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 1, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, Kim Song, stated that the country is not bound by any treaty on nuclear weapons and that Pyongyang’s status as a nuclear-armed state “will not change based on external rhetoric or unilateral desires.”
The statement came as the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) was underway at UN headquarters in New York, where the United States and many other nations have criticized North Korea’s nuclear program.
North Korea withdrew from the NPT in 2003 and has since conducted six nuclear tests, prompting the UN Security Council to impose multiple rounds of sanctions. The country is believed to possess dozens of nuclear warheads.
“At the ongoing 11th NPT Review Conference at the UN headquarters, the U.S. and some U.S.-aligned countries are baselessly questioning the current status and exercise of sovereign rights,” said Kim Song. “The status of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as a nuclear-armed state will not change based on external rhetoric or unilateral desires.”
The diplomat emphasized: “To reiterate, the DPRK will not be bound by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty under any circumstances.” He added that the country’s status as a nuclear power is “enshrined in the constitution and publicly declares the principles of using nuclear weapons.”
North Korea has long stated it will not give up its nuclear arsenal, calling its path “irreversible” and pledging to enhance its capabilities. The country has also sent troops and artillery to support Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, with observers suggesting Pyongyang is receiving military technology support from Moscow in return.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as of January 2025, nine countries possessing nuclear weapons—including Russia, the U.S., France, the UK, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea—hold a total of 12,241 nuclear warheads. The U.S. and Russia together account for nearly 90% of global nuclear weapons and have undertaken major modernization programs in recent years.
The nuclear issue is also central to the U.S. and Israeli campaign against Iran, with U.S. President Donald Trump stating that Tehran, an NPT signatory, must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. Iran denies seeking atomic weapons and has long demanded Washington recognize its right to enrich uranium.
