North Korea makes its nuclear weapons policy irrevocable by law

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea has passed a law formalizing its nuclear weapons policies, a move leader Kim Jong Un says makes its nuclear status “irreversible” and prevents any negotiations on denuclearization, state media reported Friday.

The move comes at a time when observers say that North Korea appears to be preparing to resume nuclear tests for the first time since 2017, after historic summits with the then President of the United States, Donald TrumpIn 2018, other world leaders failed to persuade Kim to give up developing his weapons.

North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly approved the bill on Thursday, the Korean Central News Agency reported. The law determines when nuclear weapons can be used, including to protect the country’s strategic assets, and whether they are attacked.

The agency said the law also prohibits any sharing of nuclear weapons or technology with other countries.

“The greater meaning of the nuclear weapons policy legislation is to draw an irreversible line so that there is no bargaining for our nuclear weapons,” Kim said in a speech before the Supreme People’s Assembly.

Government of the President of the United States, Joe BidenHe offered to speak to Kim anytime and anywhere, and South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol said his country would provide massive economic aid if Pyongyang began giving up its arsenal.