North Korea Condemns NATO Summit, Rejects Denuclearization Calls and Vows to Strengthen Sovereignty

SEOUL: North Korea has strongly condemned the United States and its allies following this week’s NATO summit, accusing them of intensifying military blocs and accelerating arms buildups while pledging to further strengthen its defence capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty.

In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang criticized NATO for expanding military cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners and increasing defence spending, describing the alliance’s actions as a threat to international peace and regional stability. North Korea alleged that the United States and its allies were pursuing bloc-based confrontation under the guise of collective security.

Rejecting repeated calls for its denuclearisation, North Korea argued that any efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons should begin with U.S. allies, including South Korea and Japan, as well as NATO member states participating in nuclear-sharing arrangements. The statement maintained that Pyongyang’s nuclear programme serves as a legitimate means of self-defence against what it called growing external military threats.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to expanding its nuclear deterrent “both quantitatively and qualitatively,” in line with leader Kim Jong Un’s policy of modernising the country’s strategic military capabilities. Officials said the move was necessary to protect national sovereignty and maintain regional strategic balance.

The statement came after NATO leaders concluded their summit with agreements to deepen defence cooperation, increase military investment, and strengthen partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing security concerns in Europe and Asia.