IAEA’s 70th assembly resolution spurned by North Korea over alleged double standards

At the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 70th General Conference in Vienna, a resolution was adopted demanding that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea abandon its nuclear activities and accept that it is not a nuclear‑weapon‑free state under the NPT. Pyongyang responded by rejecting the resolution outright.

State‑run KCNA quoted Kim Yo‑jong, who described the IAEA’s stance as a “one‑sided attack” on North Korea’s security, ignoring the nuclear threats posed by the United States and its allies. She accused the agency of applying a double standard by condemning the DPRK while Western powers continue to maintain and expand nuclear arsenals abroad.

Specific grievances mentioned included the deployment of US nuclear weapons across Europe, expanded nuclear cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the United States, and a purported plan to supply nuclear‑submarine technology to Seoul.

North Korea’s foreign ministry reinforced the message, stating that the nation’s nuclear‑armed status does not need external validation. It asserted that the DPRK’s nuclear deterrent is fully enshrined in its legal framework and is essential for defending its sovereignty against any aggression.

The rejection follows a recent declaration by Kim Yo‑jong that the country’s nuclear‑weapon status is “complete and irreversible,” signalling that Pyongyang will continue to prioritize its nuclear programme despite growing international pressure.