U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States is willing to normalize ties with North Korea if Pyongyang fully scraps its nuclear program.

Speaking to New York's Asia Society on the eve of a trip to Asia, Clinton said Saturday that if North Korea is genuinely prepared to completely and verifiably eliminate its nuclear weapons program, the Obama administration will be willing to normalize bilateral relations.

Clinton added that the U.S. would be willing to replace the peninsula's long-standing armistice agreements with a permanent peace treaty, and assist in meeting the energy and other economic needs of the North Korean people in the event the North completely abandons its nuclear ambitions.

Clinton said the Obama administration is committed to working through the six-party talks, and will discuss with South Korea, Japan and China the best way to get the negotiations back on track.

She also stressed that the nuclear discussions must address the issue of Japanese abductees in the North.

During her upcoming Asia tour, Clinton will also hold discussions on ways to resolve the global financial crisis and climate change.

This will be Clinton’s first trip abroad as Secretary of State. She said the new U.S. administration will focus a lot of time and energy in working with Asia-Pacific nations because it recognizes the ongoing significance of its relationships there.