Having nuclear weapons 'matter of life and death' for N.Korea

Pyongyang does not plan to hold any talks with Washington about its nuclear programme, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Friday, saying that possessing nuclear weapons was a matter of life and death for North Korea.

The United States would "have to put up" with North Korea's nuclear status, Choe Son-hui, director-general of the North American department of North Korea's foreign ministry, told a non-proliferation conference in Moscow.

"This is a matter of life and death for us. The current situation deepens our understanding that we need nuclear weapons to repel a potential attack."

"We will respond to fire with fire."