Two North Korean delegates will attend high-level talks on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian regional security forum set to open Friday in Manila, the Philippines.

Attention is drawn to whether a high-level meeting between North Korea and the U.S. will take place as U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill will also be attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum.

The Philippine government has expressed willingness to support nuclear negotiators should they wish to meet for direct talks.