IAEA General Conference Adopts Resolution Rejecting North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Status

The International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference adopted a resolution on Thursday that rejects North Korea's claim to nuclear weapons status, VOA 한국어 홈페이지 reports. The measure drew support from 103 countries, according to the same outlet.

The resolution reaffirms the international body's position that North Korea cannot be recognized as a nuclear-armed state, VOA 한국어 홈페이지 reports. The vote took place during the IAEA's annual gathering of member states.

North Korea reacted sharply to the IAEA's denuclearization demands. Kim Yo Jong, a senior figure in the North Korean leadership, dismissed the calls as "nonsense" and said the country's nuclear status is permanently fixed, according to v.daum.net. The statement was reported as a comprehensive account of her remarks.

Coverage from YTN noted that China adjusted the level of its messaging on the issue, while North Korea told critics to abandon what it called delusions about denuclearization. 경향신문 reported that North Korea asserted its nuclear weapons status from a location in central Beijing, and claimed that tensions on the Korean Peninsula stem from a nuclear alliance among South Korea, the United States and Japan.

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The IAEA vote reflects continued international opposition to North Korea's nuclear program, even as Pyongyang rejects denuclearization outright.

What to watch next: whether the IAEA resolution leads to any concrete follow-up measures, and how North Korea's allies respond to the vote.

IAEA General Conference Adopts Resolution Rejecting North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Status

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