US agrees to bilateral talks with DPRK

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A senior State Department official says the United States has agreed to hold bilateral talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

However, he says they will only be conducted within the six-party framework.

US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley says a decision has yet to be made on when or where such a meeting will take place.

PJ Crowley, US State Department spokesman, said, "If a bilateral discussion will lead us back to a six party process, then why would we not do that?"

Although Washington will talk directly with the DPRK, it insists there has been no shift from its previous position.

The discussions will be held within the context of the Six Party talks which involve the DPRK, the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

PJ Crowley, US State Department spokesman, said,"It's a bilateral discussion that hopefully within the six party context, and it's designed to convince North Korea to come back to the six party process, and to take affirmative steps towards denuclearisation. So, given where we are, we the United States, other countries, if through a bilateral process, we can bring them back to the six party process, that is our objective."

Earlier this week, the U.S. special envoy on the DPRK met with officials from Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo.

The last round of six-party talks took place in Beijing in December 2008.

The DPRK pulled out of the talks in April to protest international condemnation of a rocket launch.

The six-party talks are considered the most effective way to eventually end the DPRK's nuclear program.