Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she is ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

He said it would take time for the talks to be held later.

Reuters reported that Pompeii told reporters in a private plane leaving Hanoi.

Pompei also stressed the necessity of the talks, saying, "We will see that there is a reason to talk."

"We have not made it as far as we expected, but the two nations have made great strides," he said.

As for whether North Korea can achieve the denuclearization, "there is still a basis for believing that we can go forward," but "we still have a lot of work to do."