Six world powers including the US, the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany, reached a historical nuclear deal with Iran on July 14. It demonstrates that political negotiations are an effective way to settle nuclear issues. People cannot help wondering whether the Iranian agreement will shed some light on the solution of the North Korean nuclear issue.

The US has made its utmost efforts in the Iranian nuclear talks and played a pivotal role in reaching the deal. The US government has actively mediated with different sides, especially with China. Washington showed its respect for reasonable demands from Iran, including Tehran's requirement to develop nuclear power sources.

However, the US remains taking a negative attitude in settling the North Korean nuclear issue. There had been communications between the US and North Korea before. But Washington has cut off such communications and even rejected talks proposals from Pyongyang since two years ago.

The tension between the two countries reached a climax after the US government allowed the release of The Interview, a Sony Pictures comedy about a fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The movie, in Pyongyang's view, is a serious blasphemy against the authority of their leader.

In addition, certain tasks in the US-South Korea joint military exercise were targeted against North Korea, for instance, the anti-nuclear submarines acts.

North Korea feels itself threatened by such aggressive actions from the US. These actions will not ease, but will intensify, the tension on the Korean Peninsula.

In the recent two years, Washington has been reluctant to communicate with other countries over the North Korean nuclear problem. The talks with China are especially insufficient.

As the leader of the Six-Party Talks, the US only informed China of the meetings held with Japan and South Korea. Washington has put no efforts in restoring the Six-Party Talks either.

However, at present, the US still regards the Six-Party Talks as the most important mechanism in settling the North Korean nuclear issue and supports the restoration of the talks. It shares the same stance with China in this respect.

The international community, following the Iranian nuclear deal, should put the North Korean nuclear problem on the agenda again.

North Korea has encountered challenges in its diplomatic relationship with Southeast Asia, the EU and Russia in recent years. This, together with the negative attitude from the US, may make North Korea even more closed and isolated from the international society.

Pyongyang insists on nuclear tests regardless of the opposition and dissuasion from China. North Korea is very probably now speeding up its pace in developing nuclear weapons. It aims to deal with the international community as a nuclear nation. If the US keeps snubbing Pyongyang, it is very likely that North Korea will realize its aim. This will make the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula a much tougher task.

Taking Israel into consideration, the US has given the Iranian nuclear issue priority. Washington is well aware that the North Korea nuclear problem will pose a threat to the security of the international community as well as the US itself. Solving the North Korea nuclear problem is now an urgent matter.

This year, key breadbaskets in North Korea's South Hwanghae Province, North Hwanghae Province as well as South Pyongan Province have witnessed large-scale crop failure. Seawater encroachment has caused an irreversible damage to the region and the signs of a famine are emerging. This provides an opportunity for the international community to aid North Korea.

Rather than being indifferent to Pyongyang, the US should take actions to restore talks with the nation, particularly to restore humanitarian aid to Pyongyang. This will help the restoration of the Six-Party talks and the early settlement of the North Korea nuclear problem.

The author is a research fellow of Korean studies at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences.