The United States says North Korea’s move to reassemble its main nuclear complex is very unfortunate for its people.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said North Korean people could be greatly helped if the North follows the "action-for-action" mechanism.

Perino pointed out that Washington fulfilled its obligations when Pyongyang fulfilled theirs. She stressed that if the North complies with the proposed verification protocol, then it would be omitted from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said that, as in any complex negotiations, the denuclearization process has had its ups and downs. Rice went on to say that the United States would keep dialogue channels open with other concerned parties to keep the process moving ahead.