“No, I wouldn’t use it,” Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to nuclear weapons. “Why would I use a nuclear weapon when we’ve, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it?” he added, while also stating that such weapons “should never be allowed to be used by anybody.”

The remarks come after Trump earlier this month warned that Iran faced destruction, comments that drew scrutiny before a ceasefire was agreed and subsequently extended.

During the conflict, Vice President JD Vance said Washington was prepared to intensify its military response using capabilities not previously deployed, though the White House denied that nuclear weapons were under consideration.

Trump reiterated that his objective was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, saying he sought an Iran “without a nuclear weapon” that could threaten U.S. cities or regional stability. Tehran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear arms, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has said an atomic weapon was not imminent prior to the outbreak of hostilities.

The United States remains the only country to have used nuclear weapons in combat, during the final stages of World War II, when atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons but has not publicly confirmed their existence.

Trump’s statement appears to contrast with longstanding U.S. nuclear doctrine, which has not ruled out the potential use of nuclear weapons under certain conditions.

Previous administrations, including that of Barack Obama, have advocated for reducing nuclear risks while maintaining deterrence capabilities.

Speaking at a session of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim said expanding a “self-defensive nuclear deterrent” was essential for national security, economic development and regional stability, according to the official KCNA news agency.

Kim rejected the possibility of exchanging nuclear disarmament for economic incentives or security guarantees, saying North Korea had already demonstrated that it could pursue development alongside maintaining nuclear capabilities.

He said global conditions, marked by what he described as violations of sovereignty through force, underscored the necessity of nuclear weapons as the ultimate guarantee of state survival.

Analysts in South Korea said the remarks appeared to indirectly reference recent U.S. military actions against Iran, reinforcing Pyongyang’s longstanding position that nuclear deterrence is essential to prevent external intervention.

Kim said South Korea had been designated the “most hostile state” and warned that any infringement on North Korea’s sovereignty would be met without hesitation.The comments signal a continued shift in Pyongyang’s policy away from reconciliation, effectively redefining inter-Korean relations as those between two adversarial states rather than potential partners for reunification.

Officials at South Korea’s Blue House described the remarks as detrimental to peaceful coexistence, calling for dialogue and cooperation to ensure stability on the Korean peninsula.

Economic plan and defence spendingAlongside security policy, Kim outlined a new five-year economic plan focused on industrial modernisation, increased energy production, agricultural output and housing expansion.

The assembly also approved a 2026 state budget allocating 15.8% of total expenditure to defence, with explicit funding for nuclear and military capabilities, according to KCNA.

A message from Vladimir Putin was delivered during the session, pledging deeper strategic ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.