Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- North Korea risks walking into ``a wilderness of isolation'' if the communist nation doesn't abide by its agreement to give up its nuclear programs, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said.

``We have for the first time North Korea signing up to denuclearization; signing up not only with the United States but with all of its neighbors,'' Hill said in a speech to the Asian Society in New York today. ``If they walk away from this they would truly walk into a wilderness of isolation.''

North Korea on Sept. 19 pledged to give up its nuclear weapons and rejoin global accords to halt the spread of such arms in an agreement also signed by Japan, China, Russia and South Korea. In return, the U.S. promised not to attack North Korea and affirmed it had no nuclear weapons in South Korea.

Two days later a North-Korean government-run newspaper said the U.S. wants to use nuclear weapons to ``crush us to death,'' raising concerns about the regime's commitment to the six-party agreement.

``I think a lot of people saw that as a sign that not a lot was accomplished,'' Hill said. ``Despite these public statements, we go into the next round, the next round should be sometime in November, with a sense of optimism the North Koreans understand the drill. They are going to have to disband their nuclear programs.''

In return for disbanding their nuclear program North Korea will get electricity, access to international financial institutions and possible diplomatic recognition by the U.S. and Japan subject to the resolution of various issues, Hill said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brett Cole in New York at coleb@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 11, 2005 22:06 EDT