A U.S. envoy on Friday called on North Korea to return to the six-nation talks on nuclear disarmament, saying it was "not too late" for the stalled negotiations to resume, according to a news report.

"US envoy Kurt Campbell(R), seen here with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka in Tokyo, called on North Korea to return to the six-nation talks on nuclear disarmament, saying it was "not too late" for the stalled negotiations to resume, according to a news report."

"We think it's important to send a collective message to North Korea that it's not too late and that we still wish them to return to the six-party talks and to responsible negotiations," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters after talks with Japanese officials, Kyodo News said.

Campbell agreed with his Japanese counterparts on the need to fully implement a new UN Security Council resolution aimed at punishing North Korea for its nuclear and missile tests, Japan's foreign ministry said.

North Korea quit the six-party nuclear disarmament talks -- which involve the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan -- in April after the Security Council criticised its long-range rocket launch.

U.S. President Barack Obama said last week that it was important to pursue dialogue with North Korea to persuade it to renounce nuclear arms, but some U.S. officials reportedly think it is time for a new approach.

During his trip, the U.S. envoy is also expected to discuss ways to boost the nuclear deterrent it provides to Japan amid growing tensions with North Korea.

Campbell, who took over last month as assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific affairs, is due to travel to South Korea after Japan for further talks on the North Korean nuclear standoff.