Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has stressed the need to persuade North Korea to return to the stalled six-way nuclear talks.

Albright said it is imperative that the North return to the nuclear negotiations. She made the comments earlier on Tuesday during a forum organized by the U.S. organization, Human Rights First.

Albright said she believes China can play an active role in convincing the North to return to the nuclear talks, adding that she believes what the North ultimately wants are bilateral talks with the United States.

Albright also criticized the Bush administration for breaking off bilateral missile and nuclear talks with North Korea that were launched under the Clinton administration.

Albright visited Pyongyang in 2000, becoming the highest ranking U.S. official ever to visit the communist state.