The United States has again urged North Korea to declare a moratorium on its planned missile launch and return to the six-party nuclear dialogue.

White House spokesman Tony Snow told a briefing Tuesday that Pyongyang has much to gain if it returns to the multilateral negotiations citing a "parallel track" that involves direct talks with the communist state alongside the six-way framework.

When asked about what role the U.S. wants South Korea and China to play with North Korea, Snow said Washington hopes the two countries would positively press the North to declare a moratorium on its missile test and return to the negotiating table.

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