North Korea passed a law Friday enshrining its right to use pre-emptive nuclear strikes. This legislation arose in response to Western countries’ efforts toward denuclearisation negotiations, and follows the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

State-controlled Korea Central New Agency (KCNA) reports that, “by promulgating a law on a policy of the nuclear forces, our country’s status as a nuclear-weapons state has become irreversible.” Kim Jung Un elaborated that the law responds to US efforts to sanction North Korea.

The law expands the conditions under which the North Korean government may authorize usage of nuclear force. It defines nuclear forces as a “main force of the state defence” but allows for pre-emptive strikes should its safety depend on it. Further, it also prohibits the transfer of weapons, technology, and nuclear power to other countries. The new law replaces a 2013 law that allowed for the usage of nuclear weapons to repel invasion or in retaliation only.

Further, this rules out any possible negotiations with South Korea. South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol stated he is open to resolution talks with North Korea, dependent on an initiative to induce denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula. Yoon’s 77th Liberation Day speech stated, “denuclearisation of North Korea is essential for sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world.”

Pyongyang conducted a series of missile tests in 2022. This includes suspected intercontinental ballistic missiles, which would be the first since 2017.