North Korea Condemns NATO Summit and Calls for Denuclearisation Focus

On Saturday July 11 2026, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the United States and its allies for “strengthening military blocs and accelerating arms build-ups” following the NATO summit held in Turkiye from July 7 to July 8 2026. Pyongyang argued that NATO’s actions represent “bloc-to-bloc confrontation” and asserted that denuclearisation efforts should first address perceived nuclear ambitions of South Korea, Japan, and NATO members involved in nuclear-sharing arrangements.

The Hindu

The NATO summit in Turkiye announced more than $50 billion in military procurement and industrial agreements, reflecting pressure on European allies to assume a larger share of the alliance’s defence burden, a pressure attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, speaking on the sidelines, expressed interest in expanding South Korea’s cooperation with NATO on research, development, and weapons-system production.

The Hindu

The North Korean Foreign Ministry, via state media KCNA, described NATO as “a body geared towards war and confrontation” that pursues “exclusive geopolitical interests at the expense of peace and security in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.” The ministry said North Korea would “safeguard its sovereignty and security interests, as well as regional peace, through the responsible exercise of its sovereign rights.” On July 10 2026, KCNA reported that North Korea had decided on measures to strengthen its nuclear forces “quantitatively and qualitatively” in line with leader Kim Jong Un’s call for military modernisation.

The Hindu

Pyongyang’s condemnation signals an intention to further develop its nuclear arsenal while shifting the rhetorical focus of denuclearisation toward U.S. allies in the region. The statement underscores heightened tensions between the Korean Peninsula and NATO members, and suggests that future diplomatic engagements may be framed by North Korea’s demand that nuclear-sharing arrangements be addressed before any reduction of its own weapons.

The Hindu

• “Pyongyang accused NATO leaders of portraying North Korea’s exercise of its legitimate sovereign rights as a threat,” — North Korean Foreign Ministry

The Hindu

• “The alliance demonstrated a stronger commitment ?to bloc-to-bloc confrontation through increased arms spending and closer military ?cooperation with allies in the Asia-Pacific region,” — North Korean Foreign Ministry

The Hindu

• “It said North Korea would safeguard its sovereignty and security interests, as well as regional peace, through the responsible exercise of its sovereign rights.” — North Korean Foreign Ministry

The Hindu

• “KCNA said on Friday (July 10, 2026) ?that North Korea had decided on measures to strengthen its nuclear forces “quantitatively and qualitatively” as leader Kim Jong Un calls for modernising its military.” — KCNA

The Hindu