Seoul: North Korea cannot be recognized as a nuclear-armed state under the international nonproliferation treaty, and its denuclearization is a principle shared by all parties involved, including South Korea and the United States, Seoul's foreign ministry said. The ministry made the comments after U.S. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth described the North as a nuclear power in his written answers submitted to the U.S. Senate for his confirmation hearing.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the former Fox News host stated that North Korea's "status as a nuclear power" and its focus on developing missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons pose a threat to stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. The South Korean foreign ministry reiterated that North Korea's denuclearization has been a principle consistently upheld by South Korea, the United States, and the international community.

The ministry emphasized that under the NPT (Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty), North Korea can never be recognized as a nuclear-armed state. Additionally, the ministry cited the White House's reaffirmation of its position on North Korea's denuclearization.

The NPT is an international agreement aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. Currently, only five countries are acknowledged as nuclear-armed states: the United States, Britain, Russia, France, and China. North Korea initially acceded to the NPT in 1985 but withdrew in 2003 after accusations from Washington regarding a secret uranium enrichment program in violation of their bilateral agreement on freezing nuclear programs.

On Tuesday, National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby reiterated that the Biden administration's policy on North Korea's denuclearization remains unchanged. Kirby stated in a press meeting, "I can't speak to what the incoming team will characterize it. We have not gone so far as to recognition."