North Korea states nuclear status is not subject to negotiation ahead of Xi visit

North Korea stated that its status as a nuclear weapons state is permanent and not open to negotiation, according to a report published by The Japan Times on June 7, 2026. The announcement came one day before Xi Jinping was scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang for his first visit since 2019.

Statement from state media State media quoted Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as saying the nuclear status represents "the line of no retreat" and "a stark reality whether anyone recognizes it or not." The same statement added that "Reality never changes by outsiders' hope or rhetoric."

North Korea has long faced calls from the United States and China for denuclearization, but the latest remarks indicate those goals are no longer considered part of the agenda. The visit is expected to focus on bilateral relations between the two countries.