American and North Korean officials are to meet in Beijing to discuss North Korea's nuclear programme.
According to US officials, the meeting will take place next week and the Chinese Government will also participate.
The meeting will be the first direct high-level talks between Washington and Pyongyang since the crisis over North Korea's nuclear programme erupted in October.
North Korea had previously insisted on one-to-one talks with the United States, but dropped that condition last week.
Officials said that the US representative at the talks will be Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2951819.stm