NEW YORK - FOUR weeks after the United States took North Korea off a terrorism blacklist, senior diplomats from the two countries met on Thursday to discuss the next steps in implementing Pyongyang's pledge to dismantle its nuclear programme.

Mr Sung Kim, the US special envoy to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament, and Mr Ri Gun, North Korea's director for North American affairs, both said their talks covered a wide range of issues.

Mr Kim said the meeting was 'substantive, detailed, and we look forward to continuing to keep in touch.' Mr Ri said 'We all agree (in) the exchange of views what we have to do more, and what is the next thing.'

Mr Kim and Mr Ri were scheduled to attend a working dinner on Thursday night with US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the chief US negotiator with North Korea on denuclearisation.

Mr Kim told reporters he expects China, which chairs the six-party talks, to propose dates sometime soon for the next round of talks, 'but we don't have any specific dates in mind', The North Koreans' visit was organised by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, a non-governmental organisation.

The US-North Korean meeting on Thursday was held at their offices, and the committee is holding a private event on Friday which Mr Kim and Mr Ri are expected to attend. -- AP