Seoul: North Korea on Thursday strongly dismissed a call by the foreign ministers of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India for its denuclearization, asserting that it would never abandon its nuclear weapons program. This statement comes in response to the joint declaration issued by these four nations, collectively known as the Quad, during a recent meeting in New Delhi.

According to Anadolu Agency, an unnamed spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry conveyed through the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that the denuclearization of North Korea "will never happen forever." The spokesperson criticized the Quad, labeling it as a political tool serving the United States' strategy for unipolar domination.

The Foreign Ministry of North Korea further condemned what it perceived as the Quad's hostile stance, urging the group to cease actions that could undermine regional peace and stability. The statement emphasized that the Quad's efforts to bolster cooperation are seen as a means to justify Japan's rearmament initiatives and Australia's acquisition of a nuclear submarine.

In defending its stance, North Korea stated it would continue to protect its sovereignty and security interests, opposing what it termed as exclusive alliances and regional bloc confrontations. The reaction from Pyongyang reflects its long-standing view of the Quad as a potential foundation for an Asian version of NATO, a sentiment repeatedly expressed by North Korean officials.

In response to North Korea's statement, an official from South Korea's Unification Ministry noted that this year's reaction from Pyongyang also targeted Japan and Australia, appearing to support China's position. This stands in contrast to a similar statement made last year, which primarily focused on criticizing the United States.