U.S. special envoy on North Korea Stephen Bosworth says the door to dialogue with North Korea is always open.

At the National Press Club in Washington Friday, Bosworth said that the United States was closely discussing countermeasures to a planned North Korean rocket launch with allies, partners and members of the United Nations Security Council.

The envoy said Washington hopes to keep a dialogue channel open with the North to discuss the issue.

On a possible visit to North Korea, Bosworth said he would be open to doing so if it would help resolve the situation, although he said he is unsure whether Pyongyang would be willing to extend an invitation.