Bolton, who described the totalitarian state teetering on the brink of economic collapse as a "hellish nightmare," said Kim had to abandon his nuclear ambitions and engage in mutlilateral dialogue with the United States and its allies.

"The days of DPRK (North Korean) blackmail are over," Bolton said in a speech to the East Asia Institute here.

"Kim Jong-Il is dead wrong to think that developing nuclear weapons will improve his security. Indeed the opposite is true," said the undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

He accused the North korean leader of wasting the first decade of his rule since he took power in 1994 and stepping up weapons proliferation over the past 12 month.

"Kim Jong-Il has already squandered the first decade of his rule and to continue down the path toward nuclear weapons will squander his legacy as well," said Bolton.

"The choice is his to make -- but whichever path he does choose -- the United States and its allies are prepared."

Washington has been pressing for expanded dialogue with North Korea following initial three-party talks in Beijing in April with China, North Korea and the United States.

North Korea is considering a new US proposal for resuming three-party talks followed quickly by six party talks with Seoul, Tokyo and Moscow joining the forum.

The Stalinist state has demanded one-on-one consultations with Washington, but says it may show flexibility if Washington offers it security guarantees in the form of a non-aggression pact.

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