Choe Son-hui of North Korea Voices "Strong Dissatisfaction... Will Remain Steadfast as a Nuclear State" in Response to G7's 'Denuclearization' Statement

Choe Son-hui, North Korean Foreign Minister, has expressed "strong dissatisfaction and regret" in response to the joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries, which included the phrase "complete denuclearization" of North Korea.

Choe Son-hui, North Korean Foreign Minister. Photo by Yonhap News

On November 14, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Minister Choe, in a statement titled "The G7 Has No Right to Override the Sovereign Choices of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)," declared, "We resolutely condemn and reject this using the strongest rhetorical terms," voicing her opposition.

Minister Choe argued that the G7 foreign ministers' joint statement, which referenced North Korea's denuclearization, constitutes a "direct violation of North Korea's constitution." She insisted, "No one has the right to force us to violate our constitution, nor should anyone attempt to revise it."

She further stated, "The current status of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will not change according to external rhetorical claims. In today's grave geopolitical environment, possessing nuclear weapons is the most accurate choice for deterring the most dangerous and hostile countries. Whether they like it or not, our nuclear status will remain an unchanging reality for them."

Minister Choe also reiterated, "As long as external nuclear threats persist and as long as there are forces that use nuclear weapons as a tool of coercion and pursue absolute hegemony, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's will to guarantee the present and future of the nation and its people, and to realize international justice by remaining steadfastly loyal to the constitution that permanently enshrines nuclear possession, is unwavering."

This response from North Korea is ultimately interpreted as an attempt to assert its status as a "nuclear-armed state." Regarding this, Lim Eulchul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, commented, "North Korea is not simply rebutting the G7's denuclearization resolution; it is also using this as momentum to promote its status as a nuclear-armed state. As long as any country uses the word 'denuclearization,' North Korea is likely to seize the opportunity to counterattack by publicizing that 'we are a nuclear-armed state.'"