Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has stated that there is no room for any discussion or compromise regarding the country’s nuclear weapons program. She made these remarks in a statement issued just before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported this information on Sunday. The statement was released by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

In the statement, Kim Yo-jong said, “There is no room for negotiation regarding our status as a nuclear-armed state.” She further added that North Korea would not tolerate any form of threat.

Despite United Nations sanctions, North Korea has long continued its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The country has consistently maintained that it has the right to conduct these programs in the interest of its own security.

In 2023, North Korea formally enshrined its status as a nuclear-armed state in its constitution.

Analysts consider these remarks by Kim Yo-jong—regarded as a key figure in the country’s communications and foreign policy—to be particularly significant, as they come just moments before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea.

North Korean state media reported that Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea tomorrow, Monday. His visit will conclude on Tuesday.

China is one of North Korea’s primary political and economic allies. Beijing’s support is crucial for North Korea, a nation that faces severe sanctions and is largely isolated on the international stage.

This will be Xi Jinping’s first official overseas visit of the year. Last month, he held back-to-back meetings with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.