A government official says that North Korea may replace its chief delegate to the six-way nuclear talks which resume in Beijing on Monday.

The official says current chief delegate Kim Kye-kwan or vice chief delegate Ri Gun could be replaced with Ri Yong-ho, who returned home late last month after serving as the North's first ambassador to Britain from September 2003.

He's known as a U.S. expert who is fluent in English.

If the rumored replacement is true, it could indicate Pyongyang's desire to take the upcoming talks in a different direction.

As the North Korean delegation is set to arrive in Beijing Saturday, its list of delegates could be confirmed as early as Friday.