North Korea’s permanent representative to the UN argues that Pyongyang has a right to possess nuclear weapons

The U.S. has been condemned by North Korea for possessing nuclear weapons and asked to avoid “sharing nuclear” or “beefing up extended deterrence,” according to state media KCNA on Saturday.

While criticizing the United States for its participation in the Nuclear Consultative Group with South Korea and the AUKUS alliance, Pyongyang justified its nuclear arsenal as a “exercise of sovereignty.”

“Signatories to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) should not take issue with the DPRK over its legitimate exercise of sovereignty, as it had legally withdrawn from the NPT 20 years ago,” according to a statement from the DPRK permanent mission to the UN Office and international organizations in Vienna.