Sydney - Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer gave his view that North Korea wishes to abandon six-party talks on its nuclear status because it is interested to have a bilateral talk only with the United States, in spite of the fact that USA has already turned down this alternative.

Mr Downer said "The region should not take the plea of North Korea serious that it gave last week on its possession of nuclear weapons but why it suspended its participation in the six-party negotiations."

He told Parliament that he discussed the issue on phone with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and also asked China to re-double its efforts to convince North Korea to get back to the process.

He said that Australia stands firmly by the six-party talks," It's very important all of these countries be engaged in the negotiation, not just the United States."

But North Korea  is not interested to hold talks with five parties, it has reiterated its preference and opened its mind to hold talks only with the United States.
"Let it be said that Australia stands firmly by the view that the best way forward is through the six-party process, not through trying to isolate countries like China, Japan and South Korea and Russia from the process.

"It's very important all of these countries be engaged in the negotiation, not just the United States."