IAEA Resolution Condemns Last Week, North Korea: Enliven Yourself To Overcome International Community Difficulties

Rafael Grossi. (Twitter/@rafaelmgrossi)

JAKARTA - North Korea on Monday criticized the United Nations atomic watchdog body for joining America's pressure campaign and "making" a resolution regarding its nuclear program, calling the agency "a paid trumpet player" by Washington.

An unnamed spokesman for the Pyongyang Nuclear Energy Industry Ministry issued a statement criticizing the resolution adopted on Friday last week at a public conference by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling on North Korea to curb its nuclear program.

The spokesman described the resolution as "the result of a conspiracy" by the United States and its allies, saying North Korea's status as a country that owns nuclear weapons was "irreversible."

"The balance of enemy forces is the disclosure of their malicious intent to cover up criminal acts, which seriously threatens the international nuclear non-proliferation system and justifies their hostile policies towards the DPRK," he said.

The DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, namely the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Furthermore, the spokesman also accused IAEA Chairman Rafael Grossi of "leading in creating an atmosphere to pressure the DPRK", by "spreading false stories" about the imminent nuclear tests.

Previously, Grossi had warned last year that Pyongyang could resume nuclear tests for the first time since 2017.

"If the IAEA wants to avoid international criticism as a party paid by the US, it is advisable to devote itself to overcoming the difficulties facing the international community," the spokesman said, referring to what it calls US nuclear proliferation and the release of the nuclear reactor wastewater that has been treated in Japan.

It is known that the IAEA has not had access to North Korea since Pyongyang expelled its inspectors in 2009 and then restarted a nuclear test.