Formal Withdrawal, Eroding NPT Credibility, and Reasons Why North Korea Says It Is Not Bound by Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

INTRO: The reasons why North Korea says it is not bound by nuclear non-proliferation treaty were laid out by Pyongyang’s UN envoy Kim Song in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency on Thursday. He insisted external pressure will not change North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state. Here are five key reasons why North Korea says it is not bound by nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

1. Formal Withdrawal From the NPT in 2003: The first of the reasons why North Korea says it is not bound by nuclear non-proliferation treaty is legal: Pyongyang already left the pact. North Korea threatened to withdraw from the NPT in 1993 and “formally did so in 2003.” The treaty, which went into force in 1970, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, but North Korea, Israel, India, and Pakistan are notable exceptions. Kim Song stressed, “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will not be bound by the Non-Proliferation Treaty under any circumstances whatsoever.”

2. Nuclear Status Enshrined in National Constitution: A second of the reasons why North Korea says it is not bound by nuclear non-proliferation treaty is domestic law. Kim Song said the country’s status as a nuclear-armed state has been “enshrined in the constitution, transparently declaring the principles of nuclear weapons use.” With nuclear possession written into its supreme law, Pyongyang argues that no external treaty can override sovereign constitutional authority.

3. Rejection of US and Allied Criticism as “Groundless”: Kim Song accused “the United States and certain countries following its lead” of “groundlessly calling into question the current status and exercise of sovereign rights” of North Korea at the NPT review meeting. This pushback is among the reasons why North Korea says it is not bound by nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Pyongyang frames Western demands as attacks on sovereignty, not legitimate non-proliferation enforcement.

4. Claim That Nuclear Path Is “Irreversible”: North Korea insists it “will not give up its nuclear arsenal, describing its path as ‘irreversible’ and vowing to strengthen its capabilities.” That policy stance is one of the reasons why North Korea says it is not bound by nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Since withdrawing, it has conducted six nuclear tests and is believed to possess dozens of warheads, despite a raft of international sanctions. Kim Song added, “The status of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a nuclear-armed state will not change based on external rhetorical claims or unilateral desires.”

5. Argument That the NPT’s Credibility Is Eroding: Pyongyang’s defiance comes as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the “spirit of the treaty has been ‘eroding’” and that “commitments remain unfulfilled. Trust and credibility are wearing thin.” While Guterres was criticizing all states, North Korea uses such statements to bolster the reasons why North Korea says it is not bound by nuclear non-proliferation treaty, arguing that the nine nuclear-armed states — including the US and Russia with 90% of warheads — are modernizing arsenals while demanding restraint from others.

Conclusion:

According to SIPRI, the nine nuclear-armed states held 12,241 warheads in January 2025. Pyongyang has also deepened ties with Moscow, sending troops and artillery for Russia’s war in Ukraine in exchange for military and technical aid, observers say. For North Korea, the reasons why North Korea says it is not bound by nuclear non-proliferation treaty boil down to sovereignty, constitutional mandate, and a conviction that disarmament demands are applied selectively.

P.S

Difficulty getting job interview calls?

Place your order for job-winning resume on Cornelius O. Fiverr gigs for resume writing:

1. I will write, edit, design professional executive ATS resume CV, cover letter, LinkedIn