The United States asserted Wednesday that it has been "pragmatic and flexible," as called for by China, and will continue to be so in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue.

During a regular news briefing, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher reiterated the American desire to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, adding that the U.S. "has been working with the Chinese in what we think is a pragmatic and flexible way to try to talk about how that goal can be achieved."

China urged all parties involved in six-way talks on the nuclear crisis to display more flexibility earlier this week, after it became apparent that the next round of negotiations would not be held before the year's end.

After an inconclusive first round of nuclear talks in Beijing in August, it had been widely expected that the next round of the meeting would be held by the end of this year at the latest.

However, hopes for year-end talks were dashed after preparatory negotiations, aimed at crafting a joint statement to be adopted at the main meeting, stalled.

Blaming North Korea for the failure to convene new talks this month, Boucher called on Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table without preconditions.