U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens says the United States is not ready to consider normalizing ties with North Korea.

Speaking at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Stephens said it will be difficult to establish a normalized relationship with Pyongyang if it insists on having a nuclear program.

She urged the North to fully carry out United Nations Security Council resolutions, which she says clearly convey the international community’s expressed will that a nuclear North Korea will not be accepted.

Stephens went on to say that the United States is open to bilateral dialogue with North Korea within the context of six-party talks.

She hoped the recent meeting between U.S. special envoy for the six-party talks Sung Kim and North Korean ambassador Ri Gun will serve as a stepping stone for getting North Korea back into the multilateral talks process.