North Korea Says US Policy Unchanged, Pledges to Bolster Nuclear Arsenal

North Korea has declared that the United States' hostile policy towards it remains unchanged, vowing to continue strengthening its nuclear arsenal in response to Washington's repeated calls for denuclearisation.

In a statement carried by state media KCNA, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused the US of maintaining a confrontational stance. The spokesperson pointed to Washington's commitment to the "complete denuclearisation" of North Korea, its criticism of Pyongyang's human rights record, and planned joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan as evidence of this approach.

The statement asserted that the Trump administration had "fully reconfirmed its invariable hostile policy" aimed at violating North Korea's sovereignty and security interests. The spokesperson described the country's nuclear weapons as "an absolute guarantee for defending its sovereignty," adding that its nuclear status would not be weakened by US demands.

Pyongyang also dismissed the possibility of easing regional tensions under the current US approach, calling such expectations "pointless." The official stated there was "no change" in North Korea's policy towards the US.

The remarks come after US President Donald Trump ordered a significant reduction in the scale of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises with South Korea. Trump cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and described the drills as costly and unnecessarily provocative.

Despite the reduction, Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader's sister, had earlier said the exercises remained provocative and aggressive. Additionally, the US, South Korea, and Japan are scheduled to hold the Freedom Edge exercise from September 7 to 11, which North Korea has repeatedly denounced as a threat to regional security.