US hopeful of North Korea talks

The United States remains hopeful North Korea will rejoin six-party talks about its nuclear weapons programme.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said talks with South Korea, China, Japan and Russia would send a message to North Korea "to think clearly and come back to the dialogue".

Talks have been stalled since November after Pyongyang objected to US penalties on companies it suspects of aiding North Korea in counterfeiting and drug-running.

The urgency for talks has increased since North Korea test-launched seven missiles earlier this month.

But Christopher Hill said if the North Koreans wanted to be isolated, the US was happy to isolate them.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA