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ISLAMABAD, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Monday it was confident there had been no security breach in its nuclear programme despite of media reports that the country helped North Korea with arms technology.

In a statement issued after meeting the National Command Authority (NCA), which controls Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali dismissed the reports as "mischievous, motivated and highly irresponsible".

The New York Times reported in November that Pakistan had provided North Korea with technology needed to make enriched uranium for nuclear weapons in return for missile parts. Pakistan denied the reports at the time.

Islamabad has allied itself with Washington in the declared war on terrorism and Washington has warned it will lose international goodwill if it was found to be helping Pyongyang with nuclear technology.

"Pakistan was a responsible nuclear power with an impeccable record of safety and security," a statement issued by Pakistan's military quoted Jamali as saying at the NCA meeting.

The NCA is made up of military, political and scientific officials and is headed by military President General Pervez Musharraf.

The statement said Jamali, who is a key ally of Musharraf, expressed his full satisfaction with the effectiveness of the command and control structures of Islamabad's nuclear capability.

"The National Command Authority has ensured that while our nuclear assets and strategic forces were completely safe and secure, they continue to develop as per our minimum deterrence needs," the statement said.

The NCA meeting came two days after Pakistan's arch-foe India set up its nuclear weapons command chain.

India, which came close to war with Pakistan last year over the disputed region of Kashmir, put its nuclear arsenal under the control of a formal command and control procedure on Saturday and reiterated its "no first strike" policy.

Jamali said Pakistan was not in arms race with anyone "but reiterated firmly that retention of minimum deterrance is the cornerstone of Pakistan's national security policy," the statement said.

India stunned the world in May 1998 with underground nuclear tests that were quickly followed copycat tests by Pakistan.

India said on Saturday it would "retain the option" of retaliating with nuclear arms in the event of a major biological or chemical weapons attack against India or Indian forces anywhere.

Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman said the announcement revealed Indian "intentions" about the use of nuclear weapons.

Asked who controlled the nuclear button in Pakistan, Musharraf or Jamali, Aziz Ahmed Khan told reporters: "I can only say at this stage, the command and control structure has been in place for a long time. It is in safe hands and everybody has expressed his satisfaction with the command and control system."

Pakistan, which has fought three wars with India, two of them over Kashmir, has not ruled out first use of nuclear weapons, saying it would launch a nuclear strike if its territorial integrity was threatened.

Little is known about the number of nuclear warheads the two sides possess. Jane's Strategic Weapons System in London estimates India has 100 to 150 warheads and Pakistan 25 to 50. 

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