Kim Jong Un Says Nuclear Weapons Are Key to North Korea’s Survival Amid US, South Korea Tensions
September 22, 2025
SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared that building nuclear weapons is a matter of “survival” for Pyongyang, rejecting any possibility of disarmament despite international pressure.
Speaking at the Supreme People’s Assembly on Sunday, Kim said North Korea could hold dialogue with the United States if Washington abandoned its “obsession” with denuclearisation. However, he stressed that Pyongyang would never trade its nuclear arsenal in exchange for sanctions relief.
“If the United States drops the absurd obsession with denuclearising us and accepts reality, and wants genuine peaceful coexistence, there is no reason for us not to sit down,” Kim said, according to state media KCNA.
Kim’s Remarks on Trump and the US
Kim also reflected on his past interactions with former US President Donald Trump, saying:
“Personally, I still have fond memories of US President Trump.”
The two leaders famously met three times during Trump’s presidency, but peace talks collapsed six years ago over disagreements on sanctions and nuclear dismantlement.
Nuclear Weapons as a “Shield”
Kim argued that North Korea’s nuclear buildup is essential to counter “grave threats” from the US and South Korea, pointing to regular military drills by the allies, which he claimed are rehearsals for nuclear war.
“The world already knows full well what the United States does after it makes a country give up its nuclear weapons,” he added, vowing:
“We will never give up our nuclear weapons. Not now, not for eternity.”
Kim dismissed recent peace overtures from Washington and Seoul as “disingenuous,” accusing both of trying to weaken the North’s regime.
South Korea’s Response
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in an interview with Reuters, acknowledged that sanctions have failed to curb Pyongyang’s ambitions. He said the North is believed to be adding 15–20 nuclear weapons each year despite decades of international restrictions.
“The reality is that the previous approach of sanctions and pressure has not solved the problem; it has worsened it,” Lee said.
Since taking office in June, Lee has proposed a phased approach to dismantling North Korea’s nuclear programme, arguing it is the most realistic path forward. He also noted that creating the right diplomatic conditions was essential, and hinted that Trump could play a key role in reviving talks.
Sanctions and Resilience
Despite years of UN Security Council sanctions and arms embargoes, Pyongyang has continued to develop advanced nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Kim insisted that sanctions have only made the country stronger and more self-reliant.
