The United States urged North Korea to accept multilateral talks on its nuclear program Monday, saying Pyongyang's security concerns would also be discussed at the expanded forum.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher reiterated U.S. assurances that Washington has no intention of attacking or invading North Korea.

The comments follow Chinese President Hu Jintao's remarks following summit talks with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun Monday that the North's security concerns should be "seriously" addressed, referring to Pyongyang's demand that Washington guarantee the security of the Stalinist regime.