North Korea has told the United Nations it holds a "legitimate right" to self-defence and accused the United States and South Korea of threatening global security with their joint nuclear exercises. Ambassador Kim Song delivered the message during the UN General Assembly's general debate.

Kim declared the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula "dead," saying North Korea would engage only on the basis of "non-proliferation and peaceful coexistence." He warned that a war on the peninsula would not stay local but would "expand into a world war," and accused Washington of raising military tensions.

South Korea's foreign minister Cho Hyun responded by urging the North to return to dialogue, offering humanitarian assistance and reaffirming Seoul's goal of the "complete denuclearisation" of the peninsula.

The exchange came as world leaders used this year's session to address artificial intelligence threats, the Israel-Gaza conflict, Ukraine, and tensions with Iran. Pyongyang has shown no sign of abandoning its nuclear programme despite years of sanctions and stalled diplomacy.