Pyongyang: North Korea denounced the joint call by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons, threatening to enhance its nuclear forces in both quality and quantity.

According to Qatar News Agency, North Korea's foreign ministry criticized the G7 for taking issue with what it considers the North's just exercise of sovereign rights. The ministry argued that the G7 focuses on "illegal and malicious nuclear proliferation" under the pretext of nuclear sharing or providing extended deterrence. It further stated that the G7 should abandon its ambition for nuclear hegemony before discussing denuclearization and dismantlement of nukes, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Pyongyang emphasized that its status as a nuclear state, as stipulated in its constitution, will remain unchanged regardless of external recognition. The ministry added that North Korea will continue to develop and enhance its nuclear armed forces in response to external nuclear threats, aligning with its constitution and other national laws.

The foreign ministers of the G7 countries issued a joint statement following a meeting in La Malbaie, Canada, last Friday. The statement called on North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and condemned its military support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.