A U.S. think tank is proposing that North Korea be excluded from the six-party denuclearization talks and that the five remaining members start a separate dialogue to rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons.

The six-way nuclear talks have been stalled since early December due to a North Korean boycott.

The Center for a New American Security said the launch of a five-way framework will effectively show the North that Washington is willing to pursue action with or without the participation of Pyongyang.

However, the think tank said the goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula can only be achieved through dialogue, stressing the importance of efforts to bring the North back to the negotiating table.