Pyongyang: North Korea doubled down early Sunday on its ‘nuclear status,’ rejecting ‘threats’ as Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Pyongyang, Yonhap News reported, citing North Korean state media. Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, stated the country’s status as a nuclear-armed state is “absolutely irreversible” and its nuclear weapons program ‘is nonnegotiable,’ rejecting international efforts aimed at denuclearization.

According to Anadolu Agency, Xi’s visit to North Korea marks his first in seven years and follows recent summits with US and Russian leaders in Beijing. The White House stated after the American president’s visit that Xi and US President Donald Trump reaffirmed a shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea. Despite this, Beijing has not disclosed details of the discussions but mentioned that China is working in “its own way” toward a “political settlement” of the nuclear issue.

Xi’s visit is set to begin on Monday at the invitation of the North Korean leader, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic engagements surrounding North Korea’s nuclear stance.