Seoul, South Korea ? South Korea’s president-elect pressed the United States on Friday to enter direct negotiations with North Korea, and an envoy from Russia — which has been urged to intervene with the North — said Washington must take the lead in dealing with the crisis.

A North Korean official also said only the United States could solve the standoff and spurned an attempt by Seoul to discuss the North’s nuclear ambitions in talks next week.

Washington has been canvassing allies to pressure North Korea into scrapping nuclear programs believed capable of building atomic bombs.

President Bush has said the United States is willing to talk with the North but not negotiate its nuclear program — an offer Pyongyang said was insincere. Bush has held out the possibility of energy and agricultural aid if the North abandons its nuclear plans but refused to make any guarantees.

Russia and China, two of North Korea’s historical allies, are expected to play a key role in reaching a solution, possibly as mediators.

Losyukov was expected to travel to North Korea this weekend for talks with officials in Pyongyang.

South Korea’s president-elect, Roh Moo-hyun, who takes office next month, told members of American and European chambers of commerce in an address Friday that, “I would like to persuade the United States to engage actively in dialogue with North Korea.”