North Korea left the door open for possible dialogue about its nuclear programme in a statement Monday, despite its withdrawal from six-party talks aimed at ending its efforts to become a nuclear power.
"There is a specific and reserved form of dialogue that can address the current situation," said a statement from the North Korean Foreign Ministry published in the state media.
What form the dialogue might take was not clear but some commentators saw the statement as a possible call for bilateral talks with the US.
A spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed that Pyongyang would not bow to demands for a resumption of the six-nation international talks to end North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.
North Korea had taken part in the six-party talks with the US, China, South Korea, Russia and Japan.