A high-ranking North Korean official says the country's development of nuclear weapons is necessary because of the threat posed by the United States.
 
Russian state news agency Tass reported that Ahn Dong-chun, the deputy chairman of the North Korean parliament, made the comments Sunday at an assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU) in St. Petersburg, Russia.
 
The official said that his country is being threatened and its very existence is at stake, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of "total destruction" in his speech at the UN General Assembly.
 
Ahn reportedly said that the North's nuclear programs are nuclear deterrence programs aimed at protecting its independence and the country has no choice but to develop them. 
 
He also called on Washington to stop its hostile policy on North Korea, saying that the U.S. is creating obstacles to peace talks. 
 
Meanwhile, South Korean National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, who is also attending the IPU meeting, urged delegates from countries participating in the assembly to support efforts to lead the North to halt its nuclear test and come to the negotiating table. 
 
The leaders of the South and North Korean delegations will not hold talks in Russia. 

[Photo : ]