North Korea says 'denuclearisation' is a matter terminated irreversibly

SEOUL - North Korea said on Sunday denuclearisation is a matter that is terminated irreversibly, as it condemned recent nuclear deterrence talks between the U.S. and South Korea.

"The U.S. and its vassal forces' meaningless rhetoric against the DPRK and cooperation in posing a nuclear threat to it can never affect the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state," a spokesperson for North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by state media KCNA, using the country's official name.

"The 'denuclearisation' is an irreversibly finalised matter," it said.

Last week, the U.S. and South Korean officials discussed strengthening nuclear deterrence and readiness against North Korea's growing ​weapons programme at talks in Seoul under their ‌Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG).

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 5:38 PM.