“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.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has reaffirmed the alliance’s strength and unity after the successful completion of its annual nuclear exercise, stating that the drills showcased the credibility and preparedness of NATO’s nuclear deterrence capabilities in the face of rising tensions with Russia.

Speaking to German media, Rutte emphasized that the exercise, conducted earlier this month, demonstrated the alliance’s ability to respond decisively to any form of nuclear intimidation.

“When Russia is using dangerous and reckless nuclear rhetoric, our populations must know that there is no need to panic, because NATO has a strong nuclear deterrent,” he said.

Rutte’s remarks come at a critical time, as Russia continues to issue nuclear threats in connection with its war in Ukraine. The NATO chief sought to reassure citizens across member nations that the alliance remains capable and united in its commitment to collective defense.

“Putin must know that nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought,” Rutte added, echoing a long-standing principle that has underpinned global nuclear stability for decades.

The annual NATO nuclear exercise, known for its strict operational secrecy, brings together multiple member states to test readiness and coordination.

This year’s drills reportedly included simulated flight operations, nuclear strike scenarios, and rapid-response coordination between ground, air, and naval forces.

The exercises are seen as a vital demonstration of the alliance’s defensive posture and its message of deterrence against any nuclear escalation.

Rutte, who took over as NATO Secretary-General earlier this year, has been vocal about strengthening deterrence and reinforcing unity among members.

His leadership comes at a moment when the alliance faces one of its most complex security environments in decades, marked by the ongoing war in Ukraine, cyber threats, and increasing geopolitical competition.

He noted that while NATO does not seek confrontation, it cannot afford complacency. “Our deterrence remains defensive, measured, and responsible,” Rutte said. “But it is also unshakable. Every adversary must understand that NATO will defend every inch of allied territory.”

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly issued nuclear warnings since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In October, he declared that Moscow could consider using nuclear weapons if struck by conventional missiles, and that any attack supported by a nuclear power would be treated as a joint assault on Russia. These comments have intensified global concerns about the potential for escalation.

Rutte, however, stressed that NATO remains firmly focused on preventing such a scenario. The alliance’s collective deterrence strategy, he explained, is built not just on nuclear capabilities but also on diplomacy, strategic stability, and transparency among allies. “Our goal is not to provoke conflict but to preserve peace through strength,” he said.

The NATO chief’s confidence follows a broader pattern of reassurance within the alliance. Member nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, and France — all nuclear powers — have reaffirmed their commitments to NATO’s shared defense framework. These exercises serve both as a technical test of readiness and as a political signal of cohesion among allies.

Analysts say Rutte’s strong stance sends a message of stability to both allies and adversaries. It underscores NATO’s capability to deter aggression while maintaining the balance of power that has prevented direct conflict between nuclear states since the Cold War.

As tensions between Russia and the West remain high, the success of NATO’s nuclear drills reinforces a clear message: the alliance is alert, united, and prepared.

For citizens across Europe and North America, Rutte’s words serve as a reminder that deterrence, discipline, and diplomacy remain central to NATO’s mission — ensuring that the shadow of nuclear war stays where it belongs: in history, not in reality.

But tactical weapons are still seen as a last resort on the battlefield – for a military facing a threat conventional weapons cannot neutralise

Strains between countries that possess nuclear weapons have increased nuclear risks.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Friday that the world is living in the shadow of nuclear catastrophe, fuelled by growing distrust and tensions between the nuclear powers.

The UN chief told a high-level meeting to commemorate the recent International Day for Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons that progress on ridding the world of nuclear weapons has stalled and is at risk of backsliding.”

And he said strains between countries that possess nuclear weapons have increased nuclear risks.

As examples, Guterres has expressed deep concern at the escalating disputes between the Trump administration and China. Relations between the U.S. and Russia are at a low point.

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan are feuding over Kashmir, and India just had a border skirmish with China. And North Korea boasts about its nuclear weapons.

Without naming any countries, Guterres said programs to modernize nuclear arsenals threaten a qualitative nuclear arms race, not to increase the number of weapons but to make them faster, stealthier and more accurate.

Guterres also pointed to the only treaty constraining the size of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals — the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the United States and Russia — which is set to expire next year.

It is imperative that the two countries extend it without delay for the maximum five years, he said, waring that without a treaty there is an alarming possibility of a return to unconstrained strategic competition.

The secretary-general said the nuclear non-proliferation treaty or NPT, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, remains the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament and efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

The five-year review of its implementation was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic until next year and Guterres urged its 191 parties to use the extra time to strengthen the treaty, including making tangible progress towards the elimination of nuclear weapons.”

Guterres said he also looks forward to the entry into force of the first-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons, which was adopted in July 2017 by 122 countries. Once it has 50 ratifications, the treaty will enter force in 90 days, and with Malaysia’s ratification on Sept. 30 it now has 46.

At Friday’s high-level meeting, 103 of the 193 UN member nations were scheduled to speak for two minutes each. But many spoke longer so only 79 delivered addresses, and the UN said it would post the rest.

Of the major nuclear powers, Russia and China were on the speakers list but didn’t get to speak. The United States, Britain and France skipped the meeting. So did North Korea and Israel, which is widely reported to have a nuclear arsenal but has never admitted it publicly.

India and Pakistan were scheduled to speak, but only India got to deliver remarks.

Many speakers recalled that the meeting took place 75 years after the United States dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed 210,000 people and sped the end of World War II.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, whose country is still part of a 2015 agreement with Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany aimed at preventing the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapon, said the meeting provides a unique opportunity to mobilize the world to liberate humanity from the nuclear nightmare.

In brief prerecorded remarks, Zarif accused the United States of developing new nuclear weapons and recklessly lowering the threshold of their deployment.”

He said the US has also caused immense damage to the NPT by unlawfully withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and the 1987 intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia on missile.

Zarif also lashed out at US support for Israel, the sole possessor of nuclear arsenal in our region.

He demanded that the international community compel Israel — which has aggression in its very DNA — to promptly accede to the NPT and destroy its nuclear arsenal and submit to the most intrusive inspection regime.

The Iranian minister also called on the General Assembly to declare as a binding norm of international law that a nuclear war cannot be won — and must never be fought, and to develop a concrete program for time-bound nuclear disarmament.

Just imagine if the billions wasted on instruments of global annihilation were allocated to help fund the fight against COVID-19, Zarif said.

India’s Foreign Minister Harsh Vardhan Shringla reiterated the country’s longstanding commitment to nuclear disarmament through a step-by-step process, and said all states possessing nuclear weapons need to hold a meaningful dialogue” to build trust and confidence.

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said in spite of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the atomic bombings, the nuclear threat is as present as ever and multilateralism is under severe pressure.

Polarization and a lack of trust are a dangerous mix, one which we cannot afford to ignore, she said.

Linde called on the U.S. and Russia to promptly extend New START and welcomed recent discussions on a broader, follow-on agreement, which could also include China.

Sweden has launched the Stockholm Initiative on Nuclear Disarmament with 15 non-nuclear nations aimed at building political support for a result-oriented disarmament agenda within the NPT framework, she said, urging other countries to join the effort.

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said no significant progress has been made by nuclear weapon states in reducing their arsenals, and their current modernisation efforts have resulted in the ever-enlarging trust deficit among countries.

She called for enforcement of the NPT, strengthening disarmament, the early entry into force of the nuclear test ban treaty, and for all nuclear weapon states to become parties to nuclear weapons free zones.

Maintaining nuclear weapons, is clearly, a zero-sum situation, while total abolishment of such weapons, will ensure that humanity prevails, Marsudi said.