North Korea says the United States has agreed to send a senior envoy to Pyongyang.

US officials have not confirmed the visit, and US Secretary of State Colin Powell said any such meeting would first need approval from US President George W Bush.

US-North Korean relations

Oct 2000 Madeleine Albright visits Pyongyang Jan 01 Bush takes office and signals policy review Jan 02 Bush names N Korea in "axis of evil" June 02 South and North involved in lethal naval battle July 02 North says it is ready for "unconditional talks" with US, Japan

The visit would follow on from a breakthrough meeting between Mr Powell and North Korea's Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun on Wednesday.

Mr Paek said James Kelly, US Assistant Secretary of State for Asia, would visit Pyongyang at a time to be decided by the US.

Mr Kelly had been scheduled to visit North Korea last month for the first high-level talks since former US President Bill Clinton left office, but the trip was postponed after a naval clash between North and South Korea.

The diplomatic moves follow a statement from the often mercurial North that it was keen to resume unconditional talks with the US and Japan. It also expressed regret over the fatal naval clash with South Korea.

Regional gathering

Representatives from North and South Korea, the US and Japan have all been at the Regional Forum of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean).

Man of many meetings: North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun

After his meeting with Mr Powell, Mr Paek said: "James Kelly will be visiting North Korea.

"The United States will notify a day for his visit."

He added: "They said they would respond soon... There are no conditions."

Mr Powell said he would discuss the matter with the president and other executives on his return to Washington.

Engaging 'evil' power

He rejected a suggestion that it was strange to have talks over coffee with a member of a government from the "axis of evil" identified as North Korea, Iran and Iraq by his president.

"There is nothing inconsistent with our designation of North Korea as a member of what we call the axis of evil, that is just fact and reality," Mr Powell said.

"But at the same time we want to enter into dialogue to see if that reality can be changed into a more positive reality, one in which we can bring peace and stability to the peninsula and help the North Korean people achieve a better life."

Talks have been confirmed between Japan and North Korea and are likely to start this month, both sides said.

Japan is eager to address the issue of at least 11 of its nationals it says have been abducted by North Korea.