The United States has urged North Korea to agree to nuclear verification.

In a standard daily briefing, White House Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Johndroe said "the whole six-party process is based on action for action, and if the North Koreans would take steps to allow a good verification protocol to take place, then the U.S., China, Russia, Japan and South Korea would be prepared to fulfill their obligations in the agreement."

When asked about President George W. Bush's expectations for the North Korean nuclear issue, Johndroe said that Washington would like to see North Korea "verifiably denuclearize."

He also said: "The six party process has worked well. Five parties are on the same page one party, the North Koreans, are being a little difficult lately and not showing willingness to live up to their commitments to the other five parties. And so we want to see North Korea get back on the right track."

Johndroe's remarks follow a commitment to denuclearaize made by North Korea a day earlier.