The Secretary-General says he supports the DPRK's willingness to engage in one-on-one talks with the United States. As we see in this report, it comes as part of efforts to resolve the dispute over its nuclear program.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon smiles during a news conference after returning from his official visit to Myanmar, at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport July 4, 2009. [Chaiwat Subprasom/REUTERS]

During a Wednesday briefing at the United Nations, the UN chief said that there should be a dialogue with the DPRK on the nuclear issue.

And if the six-party format doesn't work, he supports direct dialogue with the United States.

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, said, "While I believe that six-party talks still can provide a good way for the solution through dialogue. If necessary then there should be some other forms of dialogue and I'm encouraged by the willingness of DPRK authorities to engage in direct dialogue with the United States. That I would like to support and welcome."

But the DPRK said last week it won't return to the six-party talks with the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. Instead, it suggested a new dialogue with President Barack Obama's administration.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told Pyongyang to stick to the six-nation talks, saying the multilateral framework is the appropriate way to engage with Pyongyang.

(CCTV July 30, 2009)