South Korea’s ambassador to the United States is stressing the need to set a deadline for President Lee Myung-bak’s “grand bargain” proposal for North Korea.

Ambassador Han Duck-soo said Friday that past methods of holding negotiations with North Korea in a step-by-step manner must be abandoned, adding that a deadline for the North's acceptance of the deal should be set.

Han made the remarks at South Korea’s parliamentary inspection of its embassy in Washington.

On speculation that Seoul and Washington were at odds over the grand bargain proposal, Ambassador Han said that there was some miscommunication in the beginning on the proposal, adding that word of Lee’s proposal had not fully spread throughout the U.S. government before the South Korean president unveiled the plan.

Lee’s grand bargain deal centers on North Korea dismantling key aspects of its nuclear program while at the same time providing the North with a security guarantee and aid.