Kim Jong-un says new law guarantees North Korea will never give up nuclear weapons

Leader says North Korea's nuclear status is now irreversible', with military allowed to automatically' use atomic weapons

North Korea has passed a law enshrining the right to automatically" use preemptive nuclear strikes to protect itself, a move leader Kim Jong-un said makes its nuclear status irreversible" and bars any denuclearisation talks, state media has reported.

The move comes as observers say North Korea appears to be preparing to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017, after historic summits with then-US president Donald Trump and other world leaders in 2018 failed to persuade Kim to abandon his weapons development.