A senior North Korean official says discussions of who will succeed leader Kim Jong-il have not yet surfaced in Pyongyang.

A director of the North's Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Tae-jong, made the remark during a meeting at a Pyongyang hotel with members of a Japanese friendship association.

He assured supporters that Kim remains in command of the nation and is working as hard as ever.

The official said the North's reason for developing nuclear weapons is to combat what it calls “hostile U.S. policies.” He stressed that Pyongyang will never again participate in the six-party nuclear talks.

The association, based in Fukuoka Prefecture, aims to seek favorable ties between Japan and North Korea.