Former U.S. State Department expert on North Korea, Joel Wit, says the United States may hold a meeting with North Korea to stop the North's development of uranium enrichment technology.

He told Radio Free Asia that the best way to stop Pyongyang from succeeding in production of highly enriched uranium is to hold a bilateral meeting. He added that the meeting may be held within the framework of the six-party nuclear talks.

Wit brushed aside the North’s recent claim that it succeeded in uranium enrichment, saying it is still in the very early stage.

However, he expressed concerns that Pyongyang may be able to make considerable progress, even within the next five years, depending on what kind of centrifuge design it obtains.