The United States says it will not provide any aid to North Korea until it voluntarily returns to the six-way nuclear talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday that the U.S. is not going to expend any funds in the absence of the North’s voluntary return to the six-party talks. She also urged the North to carry out its obligations it has agreed to regarding its denuclearization.

Clinton made the statement after a legislator warned Washington against using funding to get Pyongyang to return to the nuclear negotiations.

Clinton’s remarks suggest the U.S. sees the North’s return to the nuclear talks as a precondition for U.S. provision of aid to the North. Her comments also underlined Washington’s stance that it has no intention to bargain with the North on its return to the nuclear discussions.

Clinton also said the 98-million-dollar budget for North Korea the State Department has asked Congress to approve for next year would only be used in the event the North makes the changes sought by the international community.