Doha: North Korea said Monday its status as a nuclear weapons state has been "permanently" specified in the North's law as it denounced the United States for repeating its claim about Pyongyang's denuclearization.

According to Qatar News Agency, North Korea's permanent mission to the UN office and international organization in Vienna issued a press statement condemning the US for addressing the North's nuclear weapons program at a recent session of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The statement, carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), expressed strong denunciation and rejection of what it termed as the US revealing its intentions against North Korea, warning of serious negative consequences.

The statement further elaborated that North Korea's position as a nuclear weapons state, which has been permanently codified in the supreme and basic law of the state, has become irreversible. The North emphasized its steadfast opposition to any attempts to alter this status.

Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a research institute responsible for developing a high-thrust solid-fuel engine. He stated that the new engine is intended for use in the next-generation Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile currently under development.