The United States said yesterday that Japan should continue to be part of the six-party talks in addressing the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"Obviously Japan is one of the core members of the group. They're part of the six-party talks. You can't have six-party talks without them, and we fully expect that they will be at the table when the next round convenes," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said at a briefing.

In a statement on Saturday, the DPRK's Foreign Ministry said "there is no need for Japan to participate in (the six-party talks)as a local delegate because it is no more than a state of the U.S. and it is enough for Tokyo just to be informed of the results of the talks by Washington," Japan has rejected the call.

The six-party talks, which involve the United States, the DPRK, China, Russia, South Korea and Japan and are aimed at persuading the DPRK to abandon its nuclear programs, have been stalled since last November.