CNN  | February 13, 2012

U.S. To Hold First Talks With N. Korea Since Kim Jong Il's Death

By Elise Labott, CNN Senior State Department Producer

Celebrating his birthday on January 8th, Kim Jong-un, the new leader of
North Korea, marked the occasion by driving a tank and showing off his
military prowess. Photo: telegraph.co.uk

Washington (CNN) -- A U.S. envoy will meet with North Korean officials next week to test that nation's willingness to abandon its nuclear program, the State Department said Monday.

Special Representative for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies will meet with his counterpart, North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, in Beijing on February 23, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.

Davies just returned from Russia, where he discussed continuing efforts to get North Korea to disarm.

The talks will mark the first high-level contact since the death of North Korea's longtime leader, Kim Jong Il, in December and the subsequent transition of power to his youngest son, Kim Jong Un.

Washington hopes the talks signal the new regime's desire to negotiate with the United States and address international concerns over its nuclear program.

Kim's death last month threw into flux U.S. plans for renewed diplomacy with North Korea, including formal talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear program and possible resumption of U.S. food assistance.

The North Korea government was expected to suspend its uranium enrichment in exchange for food assistance as part of a deal that was to be announced around the time of Kim's death.

Original article here.