The U.S. says it wants North Korea to continue opening its doors to the outside world.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley made the comment after the reclusive country invited international news media to Pyongyang to cover celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of the North’s ruling Workers' Party.

In a daily news briefing Wednesday, Crowley said there were even media reports that the Internet was working in Pyongyang. He said that "for a society that has traditionally been as closed as North Korea, we would hope the North will continue to have the door open so the region and the world can learn more about what is happening there."

Crowley was also questioned on former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill's recent comments in which he said that he does not expect North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons. Crowley said that remains the fundamental choice for North Korea. He said Pyongyang can choose to have nuclear weapons, but then it will not have normal relations with the U.S. or the rest of the world.