NKorea deal a priority says US

US State Department spokesman John Kirby says the US is willing to negotiate with North Korea to map out a path towards denuclearisation.

THE US says it's open to negotiating with North Korea along similar lines to this week's historic nuclear deal with Iran.

"PROGRESS in the nuclear talks with Iran clearly demonstrates our willingness to engage countries with whom the United States has long-standing differences," said State Department spokesman John Kirby, according to Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.