Washington's top negotiator with North Korea says that the United States and North Korea have agreed to reopen international negotiations on ridding the North of its nuclear weapons "very soon."

Christopher Hill also said Friday the sides have agreed to continue discussing U.S. financial sanctions on the communist nation, a key sticking point in the six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Hill told reporters following a meeting and dinner with his South Korean counterpart Chun Young-woo that they certainly had an agreement on getting the six-party talks going soon, and an agreement on continuing the BDA talks, which he expects to take place even as early as next week. BDA refers to the Banco Delta Asia in Macau that the U.S. has accused of aiding North Korea in money laundering.

Regarding this comment by Hill, the Interfax News Agency reported that the next round of six way talks on North Korea is very likely to be held early next month.