A senior North Korean diplomat has reportedly defended his country over its latest ballistic missile launch, calling it a normal process to strengthen its nuclear deterrence to counter threats from the U.S.
 
Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported that Choe Kang-il, deputy director general for North American affairs at the North’s Foreign Ministry, made the remark in Beijing on Friday en route to Pyongyang from Switzerland. 

In Switzerland, Choe attended an international security conference on Northeast Asia for three days through Wednesday along with the representatives of the U.S. government.
 
According to NHK, Choe stressed the North will not put its nuclear weapons and missiles on the negotiating table as long as the U.S. continues its hostile policy and threatens it with nuclear weapons.
 
He said talks with Pyongyang will be only possible only when Washington suspends its hostile policy and sanctions.