North Korea reaffirms nuclear status a day before Chinese president's visit
North Korea's Nuclear Policy and Upcoming Diplomatic Engagements
North Korea's Stance on Nuclear Armament
SEOUL, June 7 (Reuters) - Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said North Korea will never back down on its status as a nuclear-armed state, warning that it will not tolerate any threats, state media agency KCNA said on Thursday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's Visit to North Korea
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea on Monday for a summit, marking his first visit to the North in nearly seven years as Beijing looks to reinforce ties with Pyongyang, China's only formal treaty ally.
Denuclearization Claims and North Korea's Response
Kim Yo Jong called U.S. claims that Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed a goal to denuclearize during a May summit "false," adding that it "has the most accurate information" regarding the claims.
"The policy of continuously strengthening self-defensive nuclear war deterrence, as declared by the head of state, is an irreversible and final conclusion that must be executed unconditionally," she said.
Expansion of Nuclear Capabilities
New Nuclear Material Production Facility
Early this week, North Korea unveiled a new nuclear material production factory where its leader Kim called for an "exponential" expansion of the country's atomic arsenal.
Analysts' Perspectives
Analysts said the new uranium-enrichment site appeared aimed at reinforcing North Korea’s negotiating position ahead of the Xi-Kim summit while justifying an acceleration of its nuclear build-up.
Increased Missile Production Orders
Kim Jong Un also visited a major munitions factory and ordered the country's missile production capacity to be increased 2.5 times over the next five years, Yonhap News Agency said on Sunday, citing North Korea's state newspaper, The Rodong Sinmun.
(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Sebin Choi; Editing by Edmund Klamann, Rod Nickel)
