North Korean Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kim Son Gyong spoke during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters on Monday. Photo by Sarah Yenesel/EPA
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A senior North Korean diplomat vowed that Pyongyang would "never give up" its nuclear weapons in a rare address to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.
Speaking during the General Debate, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong said that imposing denuclearization on the North is "tantamount to demanding it to surrender sovereignty and right to existence."
His appearance before the General Assembly marked the first time Pyongyang has sent a senior diplomat since 2018.
"We will never give up nuclear, which is our state law, national policy and sovereign power as well as the right to existence," Kim said. "Under any circumstances, we will never walk away from this position."
