Tokyo, March 19, SPA -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice used firm language Saturday to reiterate Washington's demandthat North Korea immediately resume six-nation talks toresolve the international standoff over its nuclear weaponsprograms. But she also expressed skepticism that Pyongyang wasprepared to give up its nuclear ambitions. "Let me put it plainly. North Korea should return to thesix-party talks immediately if it is serious aboutexploring the path forward that we and other parties haveproposed," Rice said during a two-day visit to Japan. "Our security is jeopardized ... by North Korea's nuclearweapons ambitions," Rice said in a policy speech atTokyo's Sophia University. "The six-party talks offer thebest framework for dealing with this problem." "This is where the North Korean government can find therespect it desires and acquire the assistance it needs ifit is willing to make a strategic choice," Rice said. Rice, who left for Seoul later Saturday, also pressedJapan to end a costly boycott on U.S. beef and offeredsupport for Japan's membership in the U.N. SecurityCouncil.--SPA1133 Local Time 0833 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/247841