The US has neglected its disarmament duty as a nuclear weapons state, plunging the international nuclear non-proliferation system into the worst crisis. This is stated in a North Korean (DPRK) foreign ministry memorandum published by the Korean Central News Agency.

The US’ overt steps towards nuclear proliferation are undermining the foundations of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and are becoming the main factor threatening world peace and security, the North Korean MFA said.

According to Pyongyang, The US "has irresponsibly neglected its disarmament duty as a nuclear weapons state.”

“The present geopolitical situation, in which the international nuclear order has reached the state of total collapse due to the U.S. radical nuclear arms buildup and undisguised nuclear proliferation, requires the DPRK to play a more positive role in defending the world peace and ensuring the global strategic security,” the statement also said.

The memorandum named the US as the “chief culprit of the vertical proliferation bringing a global nuclear nightmare.” In particular, North Korea points to Washington's cooperation with South Korea and Japan in nuclear submarines, as well as the AUKUS alliance—between the US, the UK, and Australia—as evidence of the formation of a nuclear alliance in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to Pyongyang, such cooperation could eventually lead to South Korea developing its own nuclear weapons program.

It is noted that this threat will determine North Korea's efforts to "protect the national security interests and the regional security environment."