N. Korea rejects IAEA resolution, vows to maintain nuclear force amid U.S. threats

Seoul, September 19 - Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, on Saturday dismissed a recent United Nations nuclear watchdog resolution targeting Pyongyang's nuclear program. She pledged to preserve the credibility of the nation's nuclear capabilities amid what she described as nuclear threats from the United States and others.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted in favor of the resolution at its 70th General Conference in Vienna on Thursday. The resolution reaffirmed that North Korea cannot hold nuclear-weapons-state status under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and urged Pyongyang to halt all related activities immediately. Kim's stance was articulated in a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim cited the IAEA's resolution as evidence of the agency's "extreme double standards and bias." She accused the IAEA of prioritizing U.S. interests and lacking the authority to meddle in North Korea's nuclear affairs. Kim also pointed out the U.S.'s expansion of nuclear forces and its plans to provide nuclear submarine technology to South Korea, which she believed necessitated North Korea taking a "more responsible choice" to safeguard its nuclear force and national security.