NEW : Hillary Clinton describes North Korean talks as ` ` very useful '' Envoy Stephen Bosworth is first Obama administration official to hold direct talks with North . She also has warned the United States will not normalize ties with Pyongyang or lift sanctions unless North Korea takes irreversible steps toward dismantling its nuclear program . North Korea left six - party talks in April after criticism over nuclear tests . U.S. : it 's unclear if North will return to six - party talks .
NEW : Hillary Clinton describes North Korean talks as ` ` very useful '' Envoy Stephen Bosworth is first Obama administration official to hold direct talks with North . North Korea left six - party talks in April after criticism over nuclear tests . U.S. : it 's unclear if North will return to six - party talks .