US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday Pyongyang's decision to return to the six- party talks is "a very good step," but it is "the first step."

Rice made this remark at a joint press conference with her South Korean counterpart Ban Ki-moon at the South Korean Foreign Ministry's building in central Seoul.

She also urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to make strategic decision to scrape its nuclear program.

Rice arrived here on Tuesday afternoon. Earlier Wednesday, she made a courtesy call to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.

Source: Xinhua