State news agency KCNA reports that North Korea has enacted a law declaring itself a nuclear weapons state.
Kim Jong-un, the head of the reclusive nation, described the choice as “irreversible” and ruled out the idea of any denuclearization negotiations, according to KCNA.
The country’s right to launch a nuclear strike before an enemy attack is launched is also codified in the new regulation.
The action was taken in spite of severe economic restrictions imposed by the UN, which were spearheaded by the US, but there have been rumours that China and Russia assisted North Korea in evading the penalties.
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Despite sanctions, Pyongyang has amassed funds to conduct six nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017.
North Korea has kept improving its military capabilities, posing a threat to its neighbours and perhaps even putting the US mainland in striking distance.
In 2019, Kim conducted nuclear testing and long-range missiles after two fruitless summits with the then-US president Donald Trump.
Talks between the countries have subsequently halted since then.
The US reviewed its North Korea policy last year and reiterated that “complete denuclearisation” of the Korean peninsula was the goal. President Biden said he would pursue it with a mix of diplomacy and “stern deterrence”. Kim responded by saying his country must prepare for both “dialogue and confrontation”.
