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North Korea says it is not bound by any treaty on nuclear non-proliferation
TL;DR
North Korea's UN envoy announced that the country will not adhere to any nuclear non-proliferation treaties, asserting its status as a nuclear-armed state. This declaration comes amid criticism from the U.S. and others at the ongoing NPT Review Conference.
Key points
- North Korea will not adhere to nuclear non-proliferation treaties
- The country withdrew from the NPT in 2003
- North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests
- The U.S. and others criticized North Korea at the NPT Review Conference
- North Korea is believed to hold dozens of nuclear warheads
Mentioned in this story
United NationsNuclear Non-Proliferation TreatyUN Security Council
North Korea’s envoy to the United Nations has declared that Pyongyang will not be bound by any treaty on atomic weapons and that no external pressure will change its status as a nuclear-armed state.
Ambassador Kim Song’s statement – carried by state media on Thursday – came as the United States and other countries criticised North Korea’s nuclear programme at the ongoing UN conference reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Pyongyang withdrew from the NPT in 2003 and has since conducted six nuclear tests, promoting multiple UN Security Council sanctions.
The country is believed to hold dozens of nuclear warheads.
“At the 11th NPT Review Conference currently under way at UN headquarters, the United States and certain countries following its lead are groundlessly calling into question the current status and exercise of sovereign rights,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
“The status of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a nuclear-armed state will not change based on external rhetorical claims or unilateral desires,” he added.
“To make it clear once again, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will not be bound by the Non-Proliferation Treaty under any circumstances whatsoever.”
He continued that the country’s status as a nuclear-armed state has been “enshrined in the constitution, transparently declaring the principles of nuclear weapons use”.
North Korea has long insisted that it will not give up its nuclear arsenal, describing its path as “irreversible” and pledging to strengthen its capabilities.
It has sent ground troops and artillery shells to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and observers say Pyongyang is receiving military technology assistance from Moscow in return.
The nine nuclear-armed states – Russia, the US, France, the United Kingdom, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea – possessed 12,241 nuclear warheads in January 2025, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported.
The US and Russia hold nearly 90 percent of nuclear weapons globally and have carried out major programmes to modernise them in recent years, according to SIPRI.
The nuclear issue has been at the heart of the US and Israel’s war on Iran, with US President Donald Trump saying that Tehran – a signatory to the NPT – can never have a nuclear weapon.
Iran denies seeking an atomic weapon and has long demanded Washington acknowledge its right to enrich uranium.
Q&A
What did North Korea's envoy say about nuclear treaties?
North Korea's envoy stated that the country will not be bound by any nuclear non-proliferation treaties and will maintain its status as a nuclear-armed state.
When did North Korea withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?
North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003.
How many nuclear tests has North Korea conducted since 2003?
Since withdrawing from the NPT in 2003, North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests.
