N. Korea slams Kishida's call for nuclear-free world

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 6. AP-Yonhap

North Korea on Wednesday criticized Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's recent speech advocating for a world without nuclear weapons, accusing Japan of pretending to be a victim of nuclear arms.

During a memorial ceremony on Aug. 6 to mark the anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, Kishida emphasized Japan's commitment to the "three non-nuclear principles" of not possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons.

The prime minister said that it is Japan's duty to steadily work toward realizing a world without nuclear arms, noting that Japan is the only country to have experienced the use of nuclear weapons.

Calling the speech "brazen," North Korea accused Japan of harboring a hidden agenda by promoting the outdated three non-nuclear principles.

"The fact is, Japan, which has the complete capability to manufacture and possess nuclear weapons at any moment, now seeks a justification and space to legitimize this capability," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary.

North Korea also highlighted Japan's ambitions to acquire nuclear armament, pointing to Tokyo's efforts to strengthen defense cooperation within the AUKUS security partnership.

The United States, Britain and Australia launched a security pact known as AUKUS in 2021 to counter China's assertiveness. (Yonhap)