WASHINGTON - North Korea will pay a price for its latest nuclear test if it does not reverse course but the door remains open to talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is working to make sure that the international community conveys a strong message to North Korea that North Korea will pay a price for the path they are on if they don't reverse that particular course, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.

North Korea on Monday conducted its second nuclear test in 2 1/2 years, triggering international condemnation.

Kelly also said Washington was open to resuming six-party talks among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States under which Pyongyang agreed in 2005 to abandon all of its nuclear programs.

The door remains open, Kelly said of the possibility of bringing North Korea back to the talks.

(Editing by Bill Trott)

China Japan Russia Hillary Clinton