The UN Security Council has extended by two months the period to draft a report on the implementation of resolution 1718 on sanctions against North Korea, the U.S. ambassador to the UN said Monday.

Ambassador Susan Rice, President of the Security Council for September, said the decision was made during closed consultations at which UN secretariat representatives asked for extra time to form a group of experts who will draft the report.

The communist state quit international talks and announced the restart of its nuclear program after the UN Security Council condemned its April 5 long-range missile launch. The Security Council imposed tougher sanctions on the North after it conducted its second nuclear test in May.

Pyongyang has in recent months maintained that it will only discuss its nuclear program with Washington. Washington has been unresponsive to Pyongyang''s request so far, demanding the North return to the international talks involving the two Koreas, Russia, China, Japan and the United States.