North Korea says nuclear disarmament should begin with US allies

SEOUL: North Korea has condemned the recent NATO summit, saying any effort toward global nuclear disarmament should begin with US allies participating in the alliance’s nuclear-sharing arrangements rather than with Pyongyang.

In a statement carried by the country’s state news agency, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States and its allies of accelerating military buildups and expanding their weapons stockpiles. It said the NATO summit demonstrated that the alliance is designed for confrontation and war.

The ministry said Western attempts to pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear weapons program had “completely failed,” arguing that any genuine disarmament initiative should first target NATO member states involved in nuclear-sharing agreements.

The remarks came a day after North Korean state media reported that Pyongyang had decided to further strengthen its nuclear capabilities, while leader Kim Jong Un called for continued modernization of the country’s armed forces.

The Foreign Ministry said North Korea would continue to exercise what it described as its sovereign rights responsibly to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and regional peace.