NK leader's sister says Pyongyang's nuclear status 'irreversible'

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Sunday that the country's nuclear status is "absolutely irreversible" and vowed not to tolerate any threats against it, according to state media.

Kim Yo-jong made the remarks in a statement carried by the Korea Central News Agency, reiterating Pyongyang's position that its nuclear weapons program is nonnegotiable, rejecting international efforts aimed at denuclearization. "Our status as a nuclear weapons state is an absolutely irreversible red line and an undeniable reality whether anyone recognizes it or not," she said.

Her remarks came a day ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Pyongyang, apparently aimed at underscoring that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program is not subject to discussions between Xi and Kim Jong-un.

On Friday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said that U.S. President Donald Trump Xi reaffirmed their shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea during their summit in Beijing last month, as Xi is set to travel to Pyongyang.

Kim Yo-jong, who serves as a department director of the Central C