New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson says North Korea wants direct talks with the United States.

Richardson met with Kim Myong-gil and Baek Jong-ho, senior North Korean diplomats with the North’s mission to the United Nations, at Richardson’s mansion in Santa Fe on Wednesday.

Richardson told CNN Wednesday that the North feels the six-party nuclear talks are not working and it doesn’t want to return to the multilateral negotiations.

The meeting was requested by the North Koreans, who had to get special approval from Washington to travel outside the New York area.

Richardson said the North and the members of the six-way nuclear talks are looking to reach a compromise on a dialogue format that would suit both sides, adding that the issue would have to be addressed at diplomatic negotiations.

Richardson also said the North expressed its wishes to meet with U.S. special envoy on North Korea Stephen Bosworth with no strings attached.

The governor added that through the recent meeting, he came to see the North’s willingness toward dialogue and improved ties with the U.S. He said he will report the results of his meetings with the North Korean officials to Washington.

Richardson and the North Korean diplomats are scheduled to hold meetings until Thursday.