North Korea has once against rejected six-party talks but has emphasised that it is open “to another form of dialogue.”

Last Friday, North Korea let it be known that it was not prepared to return to the six-party negotiations about its nuclear weapons programme, but that it was prepared to negotiate directly with the United States.

The US has always rejected such a move. Last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she saw no other alternative for North Korea than to return to the six-party negotiations with China, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the US.

North Korea quit the talks when they were suspended after its launch of test missiles in April and May.

Flag of North Korea from Wikimedia Commons