The United States is continuing to urge North Korea to return to the six-way nuclear talks.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood confirmed during a news briefing Wednesday that U.S. government experts and staff monitoring the shutdown and disablement of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities in the North have been asked by Pyongyang authorities to leave the country.

Wood said the North’s decision to expel international inspectors is a step backward, adding that Washington is obviously concerned about such a decision.

Wood said the North will have to deal with the consequences of such a move, including increased isolation from the international community.

At the White House, spokesman Robert Gibbs said that while it was important the U.N. Security Council adopted a statement denouncing the North’s rocket launch, efforts to convince the North to come back to the six-way nuclear talks must be stepped up. He said the North's return to the nuclear negotiations would be in the best interest of all parties.