Kim Yo Jong, a senior official of the ruling Workers' Party, said discussions about the DPRK's denuclearization were no longer relevant.

"The argument about denuclearization has gone completely out of date," Kim said in a statement.

She described the DPRK's nuclear capabilities as a core national interest and an irreversible policy, adding that the country's nuclear arsenal serves as a deterrent and a cornerstone of peace and security.

Kim warned that any attempt to challenge the DPRK's status as a nuclear weapons state would be "inviting disaster."

Her remarks came a day after G7 leaders, meeting in France this week, reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK in line with UN Security Council resolutions. In a joint statement, the leaders called on Pyongyang to end its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.