US chief delegate to the talks, assistant secretary of state Christopher Hill, said the United States "takes very seriously the six-way talks process" following a breakfast meeting with Chun Yung-woo, South Korea's chief delegate.

Chun said they agreed that North Korea must end its boycott and return to the talks and cannot expect any inducements to do so.

"There is no other way but North Korea making up its mind and returning to the talks," Chun said.

The South Korean diplomat also said the two envoys were now working on ways to "prevent the negotiation from lapsing back into a stalemate once they resume in the future."

In September, North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear weapons program in return for security, diplomatic and energy aid guarantees.

But it announced a boycott in November, protesting US financial sanctions targeting alleged North Korean illicit financial activities.

Hill arrived here late Thursday from Beijing, where he said Washington would not offer North Korea any concessions to lure it back to negotiations.

Following his breakfast meeting with Chun, Hill left here on a flight for Washington.

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