U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the six-way nuclear talks are the best place to handle concerns regarding North Korea’s nuclear proliferation.

Rice made the statement Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee on Middle East Policy after being asked to comment on reports that Syria may be seeking to develop nuclear weapons with help from North Korea.

Asked if Washington’s decision to provide fuel aid to North Korea was premature, Rice said the decision came in line with Pyongyang’s completion of the first phase of its nuclear dismantlement which was the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor.

Rice stressed that for the North to receive any further benefits, it has to carry through with the next-phase obligations, which include the disabling of its nuclear reactor and other nuclear programs associated with it.