WASHINGTON, July 22 (Xinhua) - United States Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday that the United States is seeking a permanent solution to the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

　　"We want a permanent solution this time that is irrevoca ble, and we have a very strong, sound policy that is gaining support from our friends in Asia who are most directly concerned," Powell told reporters at a meeting with Dennis Hastert, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

　　"North Korea (DPRK) has to understand that there is no future in pursuing this kind of technology, this kind of weapon," Powell said, adding that the United States will work closely with other countries to solve the issue.

　　"We have made it clear that we are willing to have a dialogue in a multilateral framework to try to find a solution to the problem," he added.

　　The secretary stressed that the United States is not prepared to strike a bilateral deal with Pyongyang like the nuclear framework agreement signed in 1994, arguing that such bilateral arrangement failed to settle DPRK's nuclear issue. End