The US and North Korea met through the so-called New York channel on Tuesday on the six-party talks, State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said at a briefing in Washington Wednesday.

"There was a New York channel meeting yesterday. Ambassador (Joseph) DeTrani met with the North Koreans yesterday," McCormack said.

"This was subsequent to our getting in touch with them earlier in the week to arrange this meeting, and the meeting was part of our overall diplomatic efforts in advance of the resumption of the six-party talks in Beijing," McCormack said.

The two sides met through the New York channel just on Monday and the US has stressed that the six-party talks are the forum for the two sides to negotiate.

The six-party talks, aimed at resolving the Korean nuclear issue and currently in recess, are to resume next week.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2005)