The U.S. State Department says it is encouraged by North Korea’s release of American and South Korean citizens and a recent increase in dialogue between North and South Korea.

In a Monday news briefing, spokesman Ian Kelly said the recent developments have created a better atmosphere than was present a few months ago when North Korea was belligerent in its rhetoric and shooting off missiles. But he said Washington’s position remains the same on North Korea --- that it believes a regional solution to the North’s nuclear problem is the best way forward.

He said the U.S. is continuing to urge the North to rejoin the six-party talks.

Regarding the North’s proposal for direct talks with the U.S., Kelly said the U.S. will not do anything that will hinder its relationship with its partners in the region. He said Washington is not ready to sit down and talk in any substantive way on security issues with North Korea until Pyongyang agrees to the multilateral framework.

Kelly added that the timetable for U.S. envoy Stephen Bosworth’s visit to South Korea, Japan and China is expected to be announced in the next couple of days.