The United States says North Korea can take a step toward denuclearization with a political commitment to meet its obligations under the six-party nuclear talks.

U.S. Assistant State Secretary Philip Crowley told a news briefing Friday that denuclearization can be a technically complex process, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a lengthy one.

The statement hinted that Washington may exercise flexibility in following the so-called two-track strategy that it is willing to engage in dialogues with Pyongyang under certain conditions but will enforce sanctions aimed at shutting down the North’s nuclear and missile programs.

But Crowley reiterated that, within the six-party process, there can be bilateral discussions stressing North Korea should come back to the multilateral process.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong-il told reporters in Hanoi Friday that North Korea always keeps the door open to talks with the United States—the first such comments from a senior North Korean official since former President Bill Clinton's visit to Pyongyang last week.