US officials say food aid to North Korea could resume pending the outcome of talks between the sides that have begun in Beijing.
The United Nations and US charities say aid is badly needed, but the US is concerned that North Korea, which has plowed resources into a nuclear weapons program, could divert food aid to political elites and its vast military.
U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues Robert King and senior US aid official Jon Brause were meeting Thursday with North Korea's director-general for American affairs, Ri Gun.
Talks are expected to last at least two days and will focus on strict monitoring mechanisms should the US decide to give aid.
The last US food handouts ended in March 2009, when North Korea expelled U.S. monitors.
AP