A U.S. expert on Asian affairs says the United States and North Korea may hold working-level dialogue in a third country.

U.S.-based Radio Free Asia cited Larry Niksch from the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) as saying that top U.S. nuclear negotiator Sung Kim or other officials are likely to hold dialogue with North Korean officials before the U.S. would consider sending special envoy Stephen Bosworth to North Korea.

Niksch added that the Obama administration is currently going over what issues might be discussed in preliminary bilateral meetings with the North.