Pyongyang: North Korea denounced South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday, accusing him of exposing his 'true identity as a hypocrite' by calling for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during a recent visit to the US. According to Anadolu Agency, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) criticized Lee's foreign policy speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. During his address, Lee reaffirmed the US-South Korea alliance and warned of strong responses to provocations, which drew ire from Pyongyang. The agency further reported that Lee insulted North Korea by referring to them as 'poor but fierce neighbors' and ridiculed the notion of denuclearization. North Korea reiterated its stance on retaining nuclear weapons, viewing them as integral to national prestige and security. North Korea emphasized that its nuclear status is a deliberate response to perceived external threats and shifts in global security dynamics. The commentary underscored the nati on's resolve not to relinquish its nuclear arsenal under any circumstances. During his US visit, Lee proposed a meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year. This proposal was described as "a very wise suggestion" by Trump, according to South Korean presidential office spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung. Trump met with Kim three times during his first term, including a notable encounter at the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas.