US and N Korea officials in talks

North Korea last took part in six-way talks in 2004

The US state department has confirmed its officials held talks on Monday with representatives of North Korea at the United Nations in New York.

A spokesman said the North Koreans had made a "procedural contact" with the US last week, but would not elaborate.

The US secretary of state had earlier described reports that Washington would refer Pyongyang to the UN within weeks as "a little forward leaning".

The US wants North Korea to resume talks on its nuclear weapons programme.

The last six-party talks were held in June 2004. Joining the US and North Korean officials were delegates from Japan, South Korea, China and Russia.

The last meeting between the US and North Korea took place on 13 May, also in New York.

At Monday's meeting, the US was represented by its special envoy to the six-party talks, Joseph DeTrani, and by Jim Foster, director of Korean affairs at the state department.

It was not immediately known who represented North Korea.

Security Council

There was no word from US officials on whether any progress was made in persuading Pyongyang to return to multilateral talks.

But in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he believed North Korea wanted an end to the standoff.

"I believe that North Korea really does want somehow to hold six-party talks and resolve the matter," he was quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had said earlier that there was no imminent plan to refer the dispute to the UN Security Council.

"I think the idea that within weeks we are going to decide one way or another is a little forward-leaning," she told reporters.

"I don't put timelines on things and I think the president, he doesn't put timelines on issues."