N. Korea vows no bargaining over nukes marking centennial of anti-imperialist union

North Korea reiterated its commitment to expanding its nuclear arsenal for self-defense, in a editorial marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of a union seen as the ideological foundation of the Workers' Party of Korea. The front-page article in Rodong Sinmun, the country's most read daily, extolled the independence and anti-imperialist spirit at the core of the Down-with-Imperialism Union, established by founding leader Kim Il-sung on October 17, 1926.

The editorial advocated for the most robust self-defense capabilities as the route to complete and absolute sovereignty, emphasizing the need to bolster the nation's nuclear arsenal. "We accomplished the historic work of building our national nuclear forces in a short time and beyond all precedent," the editorial stated. By enshrining the policy of enhancing these forces in the constitution, North Korea has ensured that no one can negotiate over its absolute strength, securing a legal safeguard for its continued development, the editorial noted.

In September, North Korea formally incorporated the policy of bolstering its nuclear force into its constitution.