North Korea calls nuclear weapons ‘the nation’s life’

PYONGYANG — One of North Korea’s top decision-making bodies is setting guidelines that call nuclear weapons “the nation’s life” that won’t be traded even for “billions of dollars”.

The statement today came after a plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers’ Party attended by leader Kim Jong Un and other officials.

It says nuclear weapons are not “goods for getting US dollars” or a “political bargaining chip”. Outside analysts have said Pyongyang raises worries over its nuclear ambitions to spur nuclear-disarmament-for-aid talks.

The statement says Pyongyang will also increase work to build up the economy. Mr Kim has made fixing the moribund economy a focus.

Pyongyang has issued a torrent of bellicose threats in recent weeks over United States-South Korean military drills and United Nations sanctions that followed its recent nuclear test./folbuzz.com/