A leading Japanese daily says the U.S. is seeking to hold bilateral talks with North Korea in a third country.

The Yomiuri Shimbun said Sunday that the U.S. is hoping to open the talks in China or elsewhere in Northeast Asia. The paper says that if the talks open in Beijing, China can also join the discussions on seeking a breakthrough to stalled efforts on resolving the North's nuclear standoff.

Yomiuri says Washington is hoping that North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Kang Sok-ju (photo), a close confidante of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, will lead Pyongyang at the talks.

The report adds the U.S. wants to open bilateral talks in mid-November when U.S. President Barack Obama plans to tour Asia.