North Korea insisted that it is a “responsible nuclear weapons state” on Saturday in response to recent criticism of its ongoing weapons development, while slamming the U.S. for allegedly undermining global nuclear nonproliferation efforts.

The DPRK’s mission in Vienna released a statement amid an ongoing “preparatory meeting” in the city for the 2026 Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference, following introductory remarks by various countries critical of North Korea’s ongoing nuclear weapons development efforts. 

“The DPRK is a responsible nuclear weapons state which committed itself to the ban on nuclear use and threat to non-nuclear states and