The United States has reportedly decided to send an official to a debate in New York that will be attended by Ri Gun, the director general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's United States division.

A State Department official said Wednesday that the department plans to send an official to the debate on North Korea that will open in New York on Friday of next week.

The statement comes after the State Department announced Tuesday that it will send an official to the Northeast Asia Cooperative Dialogue opening in San Diego on Monday of next week in which Ri is also scheduled to attend.

Given that officials of North Korea and the U.S. will be attending both gatherings, the two sides are expected to hold direct or indirect talks before or after the two meetings.