Officials from North and South Korea will hold talks next week to discuss the details of a deal to provide energy aid to the North in exchange for its nuclear disarmament.
The South Korean foreign ministry says the two-day meeting will start on Monday at a North Korean mountain resort.
Officials say the meeting is intended to facilitate progress ahead of upcoming talks with the United States, China, Russia and Japan.
North Korea will receive 950,000 tons of fuel if it permanently disables all of its nuclear facilities and fully reveals its nuclear stock.
A team of U.S. nuclear experts is currently wrapping up a visit to North Korea aimed at mapping out a disablement plan.
On Tuesday, the top U.S. negotiator, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, said he believes Pyongyang will terminate all of its nuclear activities by the end of this year.
In July, North Korea shut down its main Yongbyon nuclear complex. Earlier this month, it pledged to shut all of its facilities by December 31.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
