N.Korea to step up nuclear, missile efforts NHK North Korea's parliament has passed legislation boosting development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said on Monday that the Supreme People's Assembly had convened for their annual session in Pyongyang. The leader Kim Jong-un was reportedly in attendance. Delegates unanimously adopted legislation to reinforce the nation's status as a nuclear power, as stated in the constitution last year. They also adopted legislation related to long-range ballistic-missile development. A state bureau is to be launched to take charge of this area, known there as "space development." The new legislation says the country's nuclear armament is for legitimate defense against the hostile policies of the United States. It stipulates the North will boost the quality and quantity of the weapons. But it specifies that only the military's supreme commander can order their use. The parliament also re-appointed former premier Pak Pong Ju to the top cabinet post. Pak was dismissed 6 years ago, and then reinstated last year as the party's department director of light industry. He is known as an expert economist, and is expected to work to revitalize North Korea's economy. These decisions are in line with policies announced by leader Kim at a plenary session on Sunday of the party's central committee. Kim will mark one year since his inauguration on April 11th. North Korea's parliament has passed legislation boosting development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said on Monday that the Supreme People's Assembly had convened for their annual session in Pyongyang. The leader Kim Jong-un was reportedly in attendance. Delegates unanimously adopted legislation to reinforce the nation's status as a nuclear power, as stated in the constitution last year. They also adopted legislation related to long-range ballistic-missile development. A state bureau is to be launched to take charge of this area, known there as "space development." The new legislation says the country's nuclear armament is for legitimate defense against the hostile policies of the United States. It stipulates the North will boost the quality and quantity of the weapons. But it specifies that only the military's supreme commander can order their use. The parliament also re-appointed former premier Pak Pong Ju to the top cabinet post. Pak was dismissed 6 years ago, and then reinstated last year as the party's department director of light industry. He is known as an expert economist, and is expected to work to revitalize North Korea's economy. These decisions are in line with policies announced by leader Kim at a plenary session on Sunday of the party's central committee. Kim will mark one year since his inauguration on April 11th.