North Korea's row with America over its nuclear weapons programme turned personal yesterday when it called on Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, to withdraw her claim that it was an "outpost of tyranny". A foreign ministry spokesman said the country could not deal with someone so "bereft of political logic". Accusing Miss Rice of being "no more than an official of the most tyrannical dictatorial state in the world", he said: "It is quite illogical for the US to intend to negotiate with the DPRK without retracting its remarks listing its dialogue partner as an outpost of tyranny."His announcement offered a new insight into North Korea's refusal to take part in a fresh round of six-party talks on its programme and its threat on Tuesday to boost its nuclear arsenal. Miss Rice made the comments in interviews in January and refused to retract them as she began a tour of the Far East on Tuesday. However, as suggested by other comments complaining of America's "hostile attitude", the North Koreans may be looking for guarantees of their security. North Korea is believed to have tens or even hundreds of thousands of prisoners in its prison labour camps, many for the crime of not being enthusiastic enough participants in Kim's personality cult. Support groups for refugees who have escaped to South Korea say that the authorities recently conducted public executions of 60 people who had fled the country but were repatriated by the Chinese.