North Korea vows to maintain nuclear arsenal permanently

North Korea has declared its intention to retain its nuclear weapons indefinitely, dismissing fresh overtures from South Korea for a denuclearized peninsula. Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui made the pronouncement while rebuffing Seoul's renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at nuclear disarmament.

The statement represents a hardening of Pyongyang's position at a time of heightened tensions on the peninsula. North Korea has consistently maintained that its nuclear capability serves as a deterrent against what it characterizes as external threats, particularly from the United States and its allies.

South Korea has periodically reiterated calls for denuclearization as part of broader efforts to reduce military tensions and pursue diplomatic engagement. However, such appeals have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears in Pyongyang, which views its weapons programme as essential to regime security and national survival.

The North's defiant stance comes amid a stalled diplomatic process and continued military posturing by both sides of the heavily fortified border. Analysts say the likelihood of near-term progress on nuclear negotiations remains remote, with both Koreas entrenched in opposing positions on the fundamental issue of weapons disarmament.