A senior North Korean diplomat will visit the United States next month for talks with American officials.

Diplomatic sources said Thursday that Ri Gun, head of North American affairs for the North's Foreign ministry, has applied for an American entry visa.

They said Pyongyang and Washington have negotiated his visit through their New York channel but could not confirm with whom Ri will meet in Washington.

North Korea has demanded the lifting of U.S. sanctions over its alleged counterfeiting before returning to the six-party nuclear talks.

The United States has insisted on separating the talks from the sanctions, saying the North's financial crimes are a criminal matter.