North Korea’s number two leader said Friday that his country had no choice but to possess nuclear weapons to boost its self-defense capabilities, citing perceived U.S. threats to its independence and right to survive.

The Supreme People's Assembly leader Kim Yong-nam made the remarks while meeting with delegates from South Korea’s opposition Democratic Labor Party, a party spokesman said.

Kim was quoted as saying that Pyongyang had developed nuclear weapons in order to cope with U.S. sanctions and oppressive policy, not to threaten South Korea.

Regarding the North’s decision to return to stalled six-party nuclear talks, Kim said it had been North Korea that proposed the dialogue process to peacefully resolve Korean Peninsula-related issues.

He denounced the U.S. Bush administration, accusing it of taking advantage of the six-party talks as part of election strategy. He added that Pyongyang had offered to resume the talks first before discussing ways to lift U.S. sanctions within the six-party framework.

Kim also claimed that North Korea had decided to return to the negotiating table because Washington agreed to Pyongyang’s offer.

He added that where the six-party talks lead will be determined by the attitude of the U.S.