The United States says that inter-Korean relations must improve for the stalled six-way nuclear talks to resume.

State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. has two key criteria in terms of getting the six-nation talks back on track : continued improvement in South-North ties and the North’s promise and willingness to fulfill international obligations and commitments made under the 2005 Joint Statement.

Nuland made the remark after being asked how the North’s stern announcement last Friday would affect prospects for additional U.S.-North Korea talks.

Last Friday, the North’s National Defense Commission issued a statement saying it would never deal with the administration of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. The commission blasted the Lee administration for allowing only a small condolence delegation of civilians to visit the North after the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.