A Chinese expert on North Korea says Pyongyang could agree to international inspections of its nuclear weapons program at six-party talks next week if the U.S. agrees to compensation in return.

Cui Yingjiu, a leading North Korea expert at Peking University, said Wednesday that during the six-way talks there will be a possibility of some movement, but that there would not be a big chance of a breakthrough.

Cui's comments come after a U.S. official in Washington said Tuesday that the United States would not oppose aid concessions to North Korea in exchange for a pledge from Pyongyang to "freeze" its nuclear weapons program.