North Korea says nuclear program 'absolutely nonnegotiable'

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Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, declared the country's nuclear program "absolutely nonnegotiable" ahead of a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The statement reaffirms Pyongyang's refusal to abandon its weapons arsenal despite international pressure and sanctions. The timing coincides with Xi's trip to North Korea, underscoring how nuclear capability remains central to the regime's strategic posture and leverage in negotiations with major powers. The declaration signals that any future talks with the U.S. or other nations would need to accept North Korea's status as a nuclear weapons state rather than negotiate away the program itself.