The U-S reaffirmed its stance Wednesday that it is wiling to have a one-on-one meeting with North Korea in the context of the six-way nuclear talks, and called on Pyongyang to resume dialogue.

U-S State Department spokesman Richard Boucher also said in a press briefing that North Korea should be prepared to resolve the nuclear dispute and establish better relations with its neighbors.

Boucher said the Stalinist state can win respect and assistance through the six-party talks, noting the solutions lie within the multilateral forum.

His remarks came days after Christopher Hill, the chief U-S negotiator with the North, left the door open for a two-way meeting between Washington and Pyongyang, if the communist regime rejoins the nuclear talks.